Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/18

xiv manuscripts, being 213. Among those which had not been previously observed was the Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis), which occurred in such abundance along the sides of the Whitianga River that Cook gave it the name of the "River of Mangroves." Through a curious misapprehension he states that the mangroves "produce a resinous substance very much like Rosin. .... We found it, at first, in small Lumps upon the Sea Beach, but afterwards found it sticking to the Mangrove Trees, and by that means found out from whence it came." The resinous substance was no doubt the now well-known kauri-gum, pieces of which are often drifted along tidal streams, and are not infrequently detained among the roots or lower branches of the mangrove. The kauri-tree itself does not seem to have been observed, either by Cook or by Banks and Solander, although common enough on the hills overlooking Mercury Bay. Probably they did not venture far enough from the coast to reach it.

After leaving Mercury Bay Cook continued to follow the coast-line, and rounding Cape Colville, entered the Hauraki Gulf. Here he found himself surrounded by islands, and not wishing to lose sight of the mainland, kept close under the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula. A short sail brought him to the entrance of the Thames River, where he anchored, almost directly abreast of the position where the town of Thames now stands. On the following day, the 21st November, accompanied by Banks and Solander, he made a boat voyage up the Thames River for a distance of twelve or fourteen miles. A landing was effected on the west side of the river for the purpose of examining the kahikatea forest which still clothes its banks, and which had attracted Cook's attention at his anchorage. Describing the trees, he says, "We had not gone a hundred yards into the woods before we found a Tree that girted 19 feet 8 inches, 6 feet above the ground, and having a Quadrant with me, I found its length from the root to the first branch to be 89 feet; it was as Streight as an Arrow, and Taper'd but very little in proportion to its length, so that I judged that there was 356 Solid feet of timber in this Tree, clear of the branches. We saw many others of the same sort, several of which were Taller than the one we measured, and all of them very stout; there were likewise many other sorts of very Stout Timber Trees, all of them wholy unknown to any of us. We brought away a few specimens, and at 3 o'Clock we embarqued in order to return." It is somewhat distressing to state that the historic tree mentioned above, after surviving one hundred and thirty years with unimpaired vitality, was wantonly cut down only a few years ago.

From the Thames River Cook's course was directed to Cape Rodney, and from thence northwards to Cape Brett, which was reached on the 27th November. Here contrary winds were met with, and it was not until the 29th that the cape was weathered, and an anchorage found in the Bay of Islands, where the "Endeavour" remained until the