But though he was thus obliged, by necessity, for the first time, to leave a coast which he had discovered, before it was fully surveyed, he did not quit it till he had ascertained the extent of the country, and proved, that, excepting New Zealand, it was perhaps the largest island in the Southern Pacific Ocean.
As the Resolution pursued her course from New Caledonia, land was discovered, which on a nearer approach, was found to be an island, of good height, and five leagues in circuit.

Captain Cook named it Norfolk Isle, in honour of the noble family of Howard.

It was uninhabited; and the first persons that ever set foot on it were unquestionably our English navigators.

Various trees and plants were observed that are common at New Zealand; and, in particular, the flax plant, which is rather more luxuriant here than in any part of that country.

The chief produce of the island is a kind of spruce pine, exceedingly straight and tall, which grows in great abundance.