wounds made by the last were seldom mortal. He and his companions now
came and sat down by the English, who gave them a few trifles.

Several days were passed in the Bay of Islands, and a friendly
intercourse was maintained during the remainder of the time with the
natives. On going out of it the ship grazed a rock to windward of her
with great violence, but received no injury. This part of the country
was evidently very densely inhabited; and the people seemed to live on
friendly terms with each other, though no head or leading chief was
heard of. Fishing seemed to be one of their principal occupations, and
nets of great length were seen--one of not less than from three to four
hundred fathoms. Their towns were all fortified. Farther on, while
becalmed, some people who came off told the voyagers that at the
distance of three days' rowing the land would take a sharp turn to the
south, and extend no more to the west. It was conjectured, therefore,
that this headland was one seen by Tasman, and called by him Cape Maria
Van Diemen; and an eager lookout was kept for the important headland.

At six in the morning on December 16 land was seen from the mast-head,
which proved to be North Cape. It lies in latitude 34 degrees 22
minutes South, and longitude 186 degrees 55 minutes West. The isthmus
which joins this head to the mainland is low, which gives it the
appearance of an island. On the cape a hippah, or village, was seen,
with several inhabitants. Soon after this, when off Cape Maria Van
Diemen, the Endeavour met with a gale which, though it was in the middle
of the summer of that hemisphere, Captain Cook says, for its strength,
and the length of time it lasted, was such as he had scarcely ever been
in before. The ship was three weeks getting ten leagues to the
westward, and five weeks in getting fifty leagues. During the gale the
ship was a considerable distance from the land, or it is highly
probable, he says, they would not have returned to relate their
adventures.

It is not necessary to mention the various courses run for several days,
as no communication was held with the shore. At length a lofty peak was
seen towering above the clouds, and covered with snow, to which the name
of Mount Egmont was given. It was surrounded by a flat country of a
pleasant appearance, being clothed with verdure and wood. Near it a bay
was entered, in a safe and convenient cove of which the ship anchored.
Some canoes