th March, the finest day they had experienced since
leaving the Cape, they were able to fix their position by observation as
59 degrees 44 minutes South, 121 degrees 9 minutes East, the thermometer
registering 40 degrees. Of course this pleasant break was followed by a
heavy gale, with a tremendously heavy sea, and the ship ran before it for
New Zealand. Cook's wish was to touch at Van Diemen's Land, so as to
satisfy himself as to its forming a part of New Holland, but the wind
kept obstinately between west and north, having shifted after the gale,
and he thought it would occupy a longer time than he could spare, so he
bore up for the South Island. It was soon found that a few degrees of
latitude made a great difference in the temperature, "which we felt with
an agreeable satisfaction."

On 25th March at 10 A.M., New Zealand was sighted, and Cook steered in to
the land with the intention of putting in to the first port that appeared
suitable, but as the weather became very hazy, he thought it safer to
stand off again. He had picked up the land at a point which he had only
seen from a distance on his previous visit, and "now saw it under so many
disadvantageous circumstances, that the less I say about it, the fewer
mistakes I shall make."

DUSKY BAY.

The following day they got safely into Dusky Bay, finding forty-four
fathoms at the entrance and a sandy bottom. In about a couple of leagues
they found a good anchorage in fifty fathoms, a hawser's length or so
from the shore. This was found to be rather inconvenient, but another one
was soon found by Lieutenant Pickersgill, and received in consequence the
name Pickersgill Harbour. Here the observatory, forge, and tents were set
up. Spruce beer was brewed, to which molasses and some of their
inspissated malt juice was added, fish caught, and, in fact, everything
possible for the comfort of the crew for a short time, was done. They had
been a hundred and seventeen days at sea, had sailed 3,600 leagues
without a sight of land, and had arrived with only one man sick with the
scurvy, "occasioned, chiefly, by a bad habit of body and a complication
of other disorders."

One day, passing an island whilst out surveying, Cook was called by a
Maori and landed to meet him. The native was accompanied by two women,
and after an attempt at conversation, presented Cook with a piece of
native cloth, asking, as far as could be understood, for a boat-cloak in
return. One was made for hi