View of the perforated rock in Tolaga Bay, New Zealand.

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View of the perforated rock in Tolaga Bay, New Zealand.

Likely drawn by Sydney Parkinson between October of 1769 and March 1770. Sydney Parkinson (a Scottish landscape artist on Captain James Cook's first Endeavor voyage from 1768-1771) made field studies of plants and animal species that were then engraved to be included in John Hawkesworth's Voyages (an account of the journeys by Captain James Cook, Vice Admiral John Byron, and Joseph Banks published on behalf of the Admirality in 1773).

This arched rock in Tolaga Bay, New Zealand is described in the journals as:

“We saw also an extraordinary natural curiousity. In pursuing a valley bounded on each side by steep hills we on a sudden saw a most noble arch or Cavern through the face of a rock leading directly to the sea, so that through it we had not only a view of the bay and hills on the other side but an opportunity of imagining a ship or any other grand object opposite to it. It was certainly the most magnificent surprize I have ever met with so must is pure nature superior to art in these cases.” Joseph Banks, 24 October 1769.

Mounted in Album PAJ2143, with PAJ2145 - PAJ2206.

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Object Details

ID:	PAJ2157
Type:	Print
Display location:	Not on display
Creator:	Parkinson, Sydney
Date made:	1769
Credit:	National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements:	Sheet: 250 x 198 mm
Parts:	Plates of Cook's Voyages - Voyage 1 (Album) Interview between Commodore Byron and the Patagonians (Print) (PAJ2144) The attack of Captain Wallis in the Dolphin by the natives Otaheite (Print) (PAJ2145) The Surrender of the Island of Otaheite to Captain Wallis by the supposed Queen Oberea. (Print) (PAJ2146) View of the Indians of Terra del Fuego in their hut. (Print) (PAJ2147) View of Matavia Bay in Otaheite taken from One Tree Hill (Print) (PAJ2148) A branch of the bread fruit tree with fruit (Print) (PAJ2149) View of the Island of Otaheite with several vessels of that island (Print) (PAJ2150) A fly-trap, figures and handles of the same instruments made in Otaheite (Print) (PAJ2151) Two chisels, an adze, a bread-fruit beater, the nasal flute, a thatching needle and an instrument for beating cloth. (Print) (PAJ2152) View in the Island of Otaheite with house called Tupapow (Print) (PAJ2153) View of the Island of Huaheine, with the Ewharra no Eatua, or House of God. (Print) (PAJ2154) View of the island of Ulietea with a double canoe and a boat house (Print) (PAJ2155) View of the inside of a house on the island of Ulietea, with representation of a dance (Print) (PAJ2156) View of the perforated rock in Tolaga Bay, New Zealand. (Print) (PAJ2157) A fortified town, called a Hippah, built on a perforated rock at Tolaga in New Zealand (Print) (PAJ2158) Head of a New Zealander, with a comb in his hair. (Print) (PAJ2159) Chief of New Zealand (Print) (PAJ2160) A war canoe of New Zealand, with a view of Gable End foreland (Print) (PAJ2161) Bludgeons used as weapons in New Zealand (Print) (PAJ2162) A view of Endeavour River on the coast of New Holland (Print) (PAJ2163) An animal found on the Coast of New Holland called Kanguroo (Print) (PAJ2164) A war canoe of New Zealand (Print) (PAJ2165) A boat house in which the Natives of Yoolee-Etea preserve their canoes from the weather (Print) (PAJ2166) A burial place, in the island of Morai or Yoolee-Etea (Print) (PAJ2167) A vessel anchored in a Bay (Print) (PAJ2168) Two vessels heading towards a coastline (Print) (PAJ2169) Rural scene with fortified compound (Print) (PAJ2170) Shoreline or island inlet showing island dwelling (Print) (PAJ2171) Islanders canoeing round a small island (Print) (PAJ2172) Naval vessels anchored in bay with mountain range in background (Print) (PAJ2173) Small sailing craft on a river with mountain range in background (Print) (PAJ2174) Possibly Cook exploring a small island with natives looking on (Print) (PAJ2175) Naval launch approaching a shoreline covered with fir trees (Print) (PAJ2176) View of a town with cow being slaughtered in background (Print) (PAJ2177) A local burial ground set among trees (Print) (PAJ2178) Native burial ground built on the side of a hill (Print) (PAJ2179) Native burial ground set into hillside with decorative wooden screens (Print) (PAJ2180) 'Discovery' run onto rocks in Queen Charlotte Sound (Print) (PAJ2181) Country scene with mountain range and two figures (Print) (PAJ2182) British encampment at the mouth of the river (Print) (PAJ2183) Exploring and surveying a volcano (Print) (PAJ2184) Native village with burial ground in foreground (Print) (PAJ2185) Possibly the 'Dutton' in the East Indies (Print) (PAJ2186) Harbour scene with British vessel at anchor and native boats (Print) (PAJ2187) Naval officer being shown burial tombs by a native (Print) (PAJ2188) Naval officer being shown burial tomb by a native (Print) (PAJ2189) British encampment, natives bringing supplies. (Print) (PAJ2190) Canoe called Sandpan by the Chinese (Drawing) (PAJ2191) A canoe of Cracatoa (Drawing) (PAJ2192) Chinese canoe (Drawing) (PAJ2193) Canoe of Ulietea, with a canopy (Drawing) (PAJ2194) A canoe of Hulaitea (Drawing) (PAJ2195) Canoe from Otaheite (Drawing) (PAJ2196) Canoe of Sandwich Island (Drawing) (PAJ2197) A double sailing canoe of Huaine (Drawing) (PAJ2198) Canoe Pulo Condore (Drawing) (PAJ2199) A Chinese Junk (Drawing) (PAJ2200) Sailing canoe of friendly islands, Sketch of the 'Discovery' (Drawing) (PAJ2201) Natives of Crakatoa (Drawing) (PAJ2202) Northwest American Canoe (Drawing) (PAJ2203) A native male of North America (Drawing) (PAJ2204) A native female of North America (Drawing) (PAJ2205) A Tongan dance, probably on 21 June 1777 (Drawing) (PAJ2206)