e in very dangerous waters,
and Cook says the safety of the ship was owing to the splendid way in
which the watch was kept, and the brisk manner in which she was handled
by the crew. Forster noted "innumerable columnar forms of a considerable
height which we distinguished by the help of our glasses"; he put them
very proudly down as of basaltic formation, and afforded considerable
amusement to Cook when he was able to prove they were only trees of the
Pine family; in fact, some were afterwards cut down on Botany Island and
used for spars. They were unable to effect a landing on the Isle of Pines
owing to the rocky nature of the shore, but by some unknown means Mr.
Hodges painted a view of the interior of the island, published under that
title in Cook's Voyages. Norfolk Island was discovered on 10th October,
and a landing was effected, but no sign of inhabitants was seen, though a
welcome supply of fish, birds, and cabbage palm was obtained. The
vegetation bore a resemblance to that of New Zealand.

On 17th October Mount Egmont was sighted, and anchoring in Queen
Charlotte's Sound an immediate search was made for a bottle containing
letters which had been left for the Adventure. It was not to be found,
nor was there anything to show by whom it had been taken, but the next
day they saw where an observatory had been set up, and trees cut down
with axes, and so came to the conclusion their consort had been there.
The natives, who were at first very shy, but when they recognised Cook
"went jumping and skipping about like madmen," informed them that the
Adventure came in soon after they had left, and remained two or three
weeks. A story also was told that a ship had been lost on the north side
of the straits shortly before Cook arrived, and some of the people having
had their clothes stolen by the natives, fired on them, but when their
ammunition was exhausted were all killed. This story, evidently a
distorted account of what happened to some of the Adventure's crew, was
disbelieved by Cook, who thought there had been some misunderstanding.
Cook, from fresh observations, found that he had placed the South Island
on his chart some 40 minutes too far to the east, and had made the
distance between Queen Charlotte's Sound and Cape Pallisser 10 minutes
nearer to each other than they should have been. In this connection he
speaks in the highest terms of the desire of Mr. Wales to have everything
as accurate as possible.

On 11th N