First Sight of Maoris.

On the second day after entering Dusky Sound, some of the ship's officers reported having seen some natives. No sooner had the officers got on board, when from round a point about a mile from the ship, appeared a canoe with about seven or eight people in it. After a while the canoe came within a musket shot of the ship, and for some time the natives remained, looking at the strange sight. Signs of friendship were made to them, but they would come no nearer.

After dinner, Cook went in search of the natives, and found their canoe hauled up on the shore, near two small huts, where there were several fireplaces, some fishing nets, and a few fish lying about. No natives were to be seen. After a short stay, Cook left some medals, looking glasses, beads, etc., in the canoe, and then rowed to the head of the bay.

On returning, he put ashore again at the spot where the canoe was lying, but still saw no natives, though the smell of fire smoke showed they were near. Cook wisely comments: “I did not care to search farther, or to force an interview which they seemed to avoid; well knowing that the way to obtain this was to leave time and place to themselves.”

For the next few days, wet and stormy weather confined everyone to the ship. On 1st April, Cook went to see if any of the articles left for the “Indians” had been touched; but everything in the canoe remained as before.

Various members of the company engaged in botanising and shooting excursions, while Cook himself continued his survey of the bay. While so doing he discovered a “capacious cove” where fourteen ducks, besides other birds, were shot; for this reason it is named—Duck Cove.