On September 9th I was in the latitude of 42
degrees 37 minutes south, and in the longitude of 176 degrees 29 minutes; the
variation being there 5 degrees to the east. On the 12th of the same month,
finding a great rolling sea coming in on the south-west, I judged there was no
land to be hoped for on that point. On the 13th, being in the latitude of 42
degrees 10 minutes south, and in the longitude of 188 degrees 28 minutes, I
found the variation 7 degrees 30 minutes eastward. In this situation I
discovered a high mountainous country, which is at present marked in the charts
under the name of New Zealand. I coasted along the shore of this country to the
north-north-east till the 18th; and being then in the latitude of 40 degrees 50
minutes south, and in the longitude of 191 degrees 41 minutes, I anchored in a
fine bay, where I observed the variation to be 9 degrees towards the east.
We found here abundance of the inhabitants: they had very hoarse voices, and
were very large-made people. They durst not approach the ship nearer than a
stone’s throw; and we often observed them playing on a kind of trumpet, to which
we answered with the instruments that were on board our vessel. These people
were of a color between brown and yellow, their hair long, and almost as thick
as that of the Japanese, combed up, and fixed on the top of their heads with a
quill, or some such thing, that was thickest in the middle, in the very same
manner that Japanese fastened their hair behind their heads. These people cover
the middle of their bodies, some with a kind of mat, others with a sort of
woolen cloth, but, as for their upper and lower parts, they leave them
altogether naked.
On the 19th of December, these savages began to grow a little bolder, and more
familiar, insomuch that at last they ventured on board the Heemskirk in order to
trade with those in the vessel. As soon as I perceived it, being apprehensive
that they might attempt to surprise that ship, I sent my shallop, with seven
men, to put the people in the Heemskirk upon their guard, and to direct them not
to place any confidence in those people. My seven men, being without arms, were
attacked by these savages, who killed three of the seven, and forced the other
four to swim for their lives, which occasioned my giving that place the name of
the Bay of Murderers. Our ship’s company would, undoubtedly, have taken a severe
revenge, if the rough weather had not hindered them. From this bay we bore away
east, having the land in a manner all round us. This country appeared to us
rich, fertile, and very well situated, but as the weather was very foul, and we
had at this time a very strong west wind, we found it very difficult to get
clear of the land.
Early Australian Voyages, 1886, John Pinkerton |
