As we have seen, the language was practically the same as that of Tahiti, and there is no doubt that they came from some of the Polynesian islands.

The date of the immigration is supposed to be the fifteenth century.
Each canoe's crew settled in different parts of the North Island, and were the founders of the different great tribes into which the New Zealanders were divided.

The more celebrated canoes were the Arawa, Tainui, Aotea, Kuruhaupo, Takitumu, and others.
The Arawa claimed the first landing, and the principal idols came in her.
One of these is now in the possession of Sir George Grey.

A large tribe on the east coast still bears the name of Arawa, and her name, that of the Tainui, and other of the canoes, are now borne by some of the great steamships that run to New Zealand.
Cook, in the voyage with which we have to deal, completely examined the whole group.

His pertinacity and determination to follow the whole coast is a fine instance of his thoroughness in exploration.