In the course of this voyage his ship touched at several islands in the
great Indian Archipelago, among others at the Bashee Islands,[D] which
have been rarely visited. On his return from the east he embarked on
board a convict vessel bound for New South Wales; and afterwards made
two trading voyages among the islands of the South Sea.

It was in the course of the former of these that he first saw New
Zealand, the vessel having touched at the Bay of Islands, on her way
home to Port Jackson.

His second trading voyage in those seas was made in the "Magnet," a
three-masted schooner, commanded by Captain Vine; but this vessel having
put in at Owhyhee,[E] Rutherford fell sick and was left on that island.
Having recovered, however, in about a fortnight, he was taken on board
the "Agnes," an American brig of six guns and fourteen men, commanded by
Captain Coffin, which was then engaged in trading for pearl and
tortoiseshell among the islands of the Pacific.

This vessel, after having touched at various other places, on her return
from Owhyhee, approached the east coast of New Zealand, intending to put
in for refreshments at the Bay of Islands.

Rutherford states in his journal that this event, which was to him of
such importance, occurred on March 6th, 1816. They first came in sight
of the Barrier Islands, some distance to the south of the port for which
they were making. They accordingly directed their course to the north;
but they had not got far on their way when it began to blow a gale from
the north-east, which, being aided by a current, not only made it
impossible for them to proceed to the Bay of Islands, but even carried
them past the mouth of the Thames. It lasted for five days, and when it