Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

CHAPTER XXIV. New Zealand— Bay of Islands— Kororareka— Fences— Flag— Paihia— Natives — Features — Tattow — Population — Colour — Manner — War- Canoes — Prospects — Mackintosh — Fern — Church — Resident — Vines —Villagfe— Houses— Planks— Cooking-— Church— Marae— First Mis- sion — Settlers— Pomare — Marion— Cawa-Cawa— Meeting— Chiefs Rats — Spirits — Wine — Nets — Burial — Divine Service — Singing- Causes of Disturbances — Reflections and Suggestions — Polynesian Interests — Resources for Ships in the Pacific. Dec. 21. At daylight we were about four miles from Cape Brett, and nearly the same distance from Point Pococke while in the north-west the Cavalle islands showed themselves indistinctly. A light easterly breeze enabled us to steer to- wards the Bay of Islands. — Few places are easier of access than this bay : excepting the Whale-rock, whose position is well ascertained, there are no hidden dangers : and within the line of the heads, there is little or no current deserving notice outside that line, the current generally sets to the south-east about a mile an hour. Compared with mountainous countries, the northern parts of New Zealand are not high ; but they cannot be described as low land. Perhaps the expression, ' moderately high land,' may convey an idea of such as is more than two hundred, but less than twelve hundred feet above tiie level of the sea ; which are the limits I have in view. In distant profile the land inclines too much to regular and convex outlines to be picturesque. It is only along the sea-coast that steep cliffs, and a more broken boundary, cause enough variety to please the eye of a lover of landscape. Approaching nearer, the interior of the country, varied by hill and valley, with an agreeable mixture of wood- land and cleared ground, makes a favourable impression upon the mind, from the natural association of ideas of capability and cultivation ; but whether it pleases the eye, as a picture, must depend probably as much upon the kind of scenery lately viewed, as upon preconceived ideas. With us the recent im-