Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/16

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HISTORY OF

ample fortune, volunteered to accompany the expedition. At his own expense he provided the requisites for making collections in every department of natural science, and engaged Dr. Solander, four draughtsmen or artists, and a staff of servants to accompany him. The cost to Banks of these preparations has been estimated at £10,000. After rounding Cape Horn, and after a stay of nearly four months at Tahiti and other islands of the Society Group, Cook struck south-westwards across the Pacific. On Friday, the 6th October, 1769, he first sighted New Zealand, and at once stood in for the land. Delayed by calms and baffling winds, it was not until the afternoon of Sunday, the 8th October, that he anchored on the north-west side of a deep bay, to which he afterwards gave the name of Poverty Bay, and almost directly opposite the present town of Gisborne. Cook immediately landed, accompanied by Banks and Solander, but an unfortunate skirmish took place with the Maoris, one of whom was shot, and the party returned to the ship. The next morning a landing was made in greater force, and some intercourse took place with the Maoris through the medium of a Tahitian interpreter. Their behaviour, however, was so threatening that it became necessary to fire upon them, and another man was killed and several wounded. Discouraged by this reception Cook once more re-embarked. The following morning another landing was effected, and Cook, together with Banks and Solander, strolled some little distance up the right bank of the Waikanae River. But the Natives again became troublesome, and a retreat had to be made to the landing-place. Seeing no hope of establishing a pacific intercourse. Cook returned to his vessel, and at daylight the following morning left the bay. Under the circumstances narrated above, it is obvious that little botanising could be done. Banks, in his journal, laments that "We took leave of Poverty Bay, as we named it, with not above forty species of plants in our boxes, which is not to be wondered at, as we were so little ashore, and always upon the same spot. The only time when we wandered about a mile from the boats was upon a swamp, where not more than three species of plants were found."

After leaving Poverty Bay, Cook followed the coast southwards, successively passing Table Cape, Portland Island, Hawke's Bay, and Cape Kidnappers, but nowhere making any attempt to land. On the 17th October, when off Cape Turnagain, he determined to return to the northwards, giving as a reason that there was "no likelyhood of meeting with a Harbour, and the face of the Country Visibly altering for the worse." On the 19th he repassed Poverty Bay, and on the 20th anchored in Anaura Bay, which he called "Tegadoo." Here the reception given by the Natives was all that could be desired, and Cook consequently remained until daylight on the 22nd, for the purpose, as he states, of giving "Mr. Banks an opportunity to Collect a little of the Produce of the Country." Banks, in his journal, says, "We ranged all about the bay, and were well repaid by finding many plants