go greatly to leeward.
On the 30th, Cape Maria van Diemen was seen about six leagues off, the
land extending east and south. On the last day of the year their position
was given as "34 degrees 42 minutes South, Cape Maria van Diemen
North-East by North about 5 leagues." Cook says:

"I cannot help thinking but what it will appear a little strange that, at
this season of the year, we should be three weeks in getting fifty
leagues, for so long is it since we pass'd Cape Brett; but it will hardly
be credited that in the midst of summer and in the latitude of 35 degrees
South such a gale of wind as we have had could have happened, which for
its strength and continuance was such as I hardly was ever in before.
Fortunately at this time we were a good distance from land, otherwise it
would have proved fatal to us."

VEGETABLE SHEEP.

On 2nd January 1770 Cook fixed the position of Cape Maria van Diemen,
giving it as 34 degrees 30 minutes South, 187 degrees 18 minutes West of
Greenwich. Admiral Wharton remarks that this is extraordinarily correct,
seeing that the ship was never close to the Cape, and the observations
were all taken in very bad weather. The latitude is exact, and the
longitude only three miles out. He missed seeing Kaipara Harbour, one of
the few good ones on the west coast, and describes the land as having a
most desolate and inhospitable appearance, nothing but sandhills with
hardly a sign of vegetation on them, and says: "If we was once clear of
it, I am determined not to come so near again if I can avoid it, unless
we have a very favourable wind indeed." On the 11th, a high mountain, its
summit covered with snow, was seen, and named Mount Egmont; Wharton gives
its height as 8,300 feet, and describes it as a magnificent conical
mountain surrounded on three sides by the sea. Banks notes on the sides
of the hill "many white lumps in companies which bore much resemblance to
flocks of sheep." These were a peculiar plant, Raoulia mammillaris
(Hooker), known in New Zealand as vegetable sheep. Fires were seen, the
first sign of inhabitants on the west coast.

On the 14th, thinking he was in the entrance of a large bay, Cook ran in
under the southern coast, and finding it broken into promising-looking
bays, determined to run into one and careen the ship, as she was very
foul; it is now called Ship Cove, in Queen Charlotte's Sound. Here they
were at once visited by canoes, whose fully armed occupants commenced
acqua