Cook. equally salutary on the health of the people, he employed them in brewing beer from it. This was done while they continued at Dusky Bay, in order to supply the want of vegetables, which were not to be procured there; but on removing to Queen Charlotte's Sound, they were more fortunate. Captain Cook himself went to look out for antiscorbutic vegetables; and returned in a very short time with a boat-load of scurvygrass, celery, &c. These were boiled with the pease and wheat; and though some of the people disliked them at first, they soon became so sensible of their good effects, that they cheerfully followed the example of the rest: and the freedom of the crew from the scurvy and other distempers was by every one attributed to the New Zealand spruce beer and vegetables. From this time forward the captain had scarce occasion to give orders for gathering vegetables when they came to any land.

During this voyage Captain Cook experienced another narrow escape from shipwreck. Being becalmed at the distance of half a league from a reef of rocks near Osnaburgh island, it was found necessary to order out the boats to tow off the ships; but this was found impossible. The calm continuing, and the situation of our navigators becoming every moment more dangerous, the captain attempted to get through an opening in the reef which he had judged practicable; but on approaching it, found that there was not sufficient depth of water; at the same time that the draught of the tide through it forced the ship thither in a manner scarce to be resisted. One of the warping machines, with about 400 fathoms of rope, was then ordered out, but did not produce any effect. They were within two cables length of the breakers, and no bottom could be found for casting anchor. Having no other resource, however, they did drop an anchor; but before it took hold, the Resolution was in less than three fathoms water, and struck at every fall of the sea, which broke violently close under her stern, threatening destruction to every one on board. At last the tide ceasing to act in the same direction, the boats were ordered to try to tow off the vessel; in which being assisted by the land breeze, which fortunately sprung up at that instant, they with much labour succeeded.

Having spent a considerable time in the South Sea islands, Captain Cook returned to New Zealand, and from thence set sail for the southern part of the continent of America. Here he explored all the islands in the neighbourhood, and then returned to England, where he arrived in safety on the 30th of July 1774, having been absent three years and 18 days; and in all that time lost only one man, who died of a consumption probably begun before he set out on the voyage.

The reception our navigator now met with was suited to his merit. He was immediately raised to the rank of post captain, and soon after unanimously elected a member of the Royal Society; from whom he received the prize of the gold medal for the best experimental paper that had appeared throughout the year. It was the custom of Sir John Pringle, at the delivery of this medal, annually, to make an elaborate discourse, containing the history of that part of science for which the medal was given; and, as the subject of Captain

Cook's paper (the means of preserving the health of seamen) was analogous to the profession of Sir John Pringle himself as a physician, he had the greater op portunity of displaying his eloquence on the occasion. The speech he made was in the highest degree honourable to Captain Cook. He remarked that the society had never more meritoriously bestowed the medal than on the person who now received it. "If (says he) Rome decreed the civic crown to him who saved the life of a single citizen, what wreaths are due to the man who, having himself saved many, perpetuates in your Transactions the means by which Britain may now in the most distant voyages, preserve numbers of her intrepid sons, her mariners; who braving every danger, have so liberally contributed to the fame, to the opulence, and to the maritime empire of the country." These honourable testimonies of the public regard, however, Captain Cook did not receive, being already embarked on another voyage, from which he never returned.

The third voyage of this celebrated navigator was not undertaken by any express command of his majesty. Captain Cook had already done so much, that it was thought but reasonable he should now spend the remainder of his life in quiet; and in order to enable him to do this in a more comfortable manner, besides his rank of post-captain in the navy, he was also made a captain in Greenwich. Still, however, there were some points in the science of geography which had very much engaged the attention of the public, and were indeed of such importance as to become a national concern. These were to discover the connection between Asia and America, and to determine whether there was not a possibility of shortening the passage to the East Indies by sailing round the northern parts of the continents of Europe and Asia. Many attempts, indeed, had already been made by various navigators of different nations; but all of them had failed, and, what was worse, had left the point still undetermined. An act of parliament had been passed in 1745, by which a reward of 20,000l. was held out to the ships of any of his majesty's subjects for accomplishing this important voyage, but without mentioning any thing of those belonging to his majesty; and this reward was further coufined to the finding out of the north-west passage to the East Indies through Hudson's bay. In the year 1776, however, both the errors just mentioned were corrected. It was now enacted, "That if any ship belonging to any of his majesty's subjects, or to his majesty, shall find out, and sail through, any passage by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in any direction or parallel of the northern hemisphere, to the northward of the 52d degree of northern latitude; the owners of such ships if belonging to any of his majesty's subjects, or the commanders, officers, and seamen, of such ships belonging to his majesty, shall receive, as a reward for such discovery, the sum of 20,000l.

It was not, as has already been hinted, now deemed proper to solicit Captain Cook to undergo fresh dangers by undertaking a voyage of this kind; nevertheless, as he was universally looked upon to be the fittest person in the kingdom for the purpose, the eyes of every one were tacitly fixed upon him: he was consulted on every thing relating to it, and soli4 H 2 cited

it was determined to send abroad a breed of domestic Cook. animals, and likewise a quantity of useful seeds, to be left in proper places. With this view, a bull, two cows with their calves, and several sheep, with hay and corn for their subsistence, were taken on board; and it was likewise proposed to take in others at the Cape of Good Hope. A large assortment of iron tools and trinkets was also sent out; and, in short, every thing that could be judged proper either to conciliate the good will of the natives or to prove serviceable to them, was provided for the voyage, as well as every convenience for the ship's companies. In the former voyage Captain Cook had brought along with him a native of one of the South sea islands, named Omai, who resided in England during the interval between the second and third voyages, and was now happy at getting an opportunity of returning to his own country. Though he could by no means complain of the entertainment he had met with in England, the idea of returning home loaded with treasure, which might enable him to make a figure among his countrymen, soon overcame all uneasy sensations, which the leaving of his English friends might excite. His majesty had taken care to furnish him with every thing that could possibly be of use when he came to his native country; and he had besides received several valuable presents from Lord Sandwich, Sir Joseph Banks, and several ladies and gentlemen of his acquaintance; so that nothing was omitted which could possibly be done to convey, by his means, to the inhabitants of the South Sea islands, an idea of the British power and great

ness.

cited to name the person whom he judged most proper to conduct it. To determine this point, Captain Cook, Sir Hugh Palliser, and Mr Stephens, were invited to the house of Lord Sandwich to dinner; where, besides the consideration of the proper officer for conducting the expedition, many things were said concerning the nature of the design. They enlarged upon its grandeur and dignity, its consequences to navigation and science, and the completeness it would give to the whole system of discoveries; until at last Captain Cook was so much inflamed by the representation of the importance of the voyage, that he started up, and declared that he would conduct it himself. This was what the parties present had desired, and probably expected; his offer was therefore instantly laid before the king, and Captain Cook appointed commander of the expedition by the 10th of February 1776. At the same time it was agreed, that on his return from the voyage, he should be restored to his place at Greenwich; and if no vacancy occurred during the interval, the officer who succeeded him was to resign in his favour. The instructions he now received were, that he should attempt the high latitudes between the continents of Asia and America, and if possible return to England along the northern coasts of Asia and Europe. This was most probably the result of the captain's own deliberations, and what had been suggested by him to Lord Sandwich and other people in power. He was particularly desired to sail first into the Pacific ocean through the chain of newly discovered islands which he had lately visited. After having crossed the equator, and passed into the northern parts of the ocean just mentioned, he was then to hold such a course as might tend to settle many interesting points of geography, and produce some intermediate discoveries, before he arrived at the main scene of operation. With regard to this principal object, he was ordered, immediately on his arrival on the coast of New Albion, to proceed northward as far as the latitude of 65 degrees, without losing any time in exploring creeks or rivers previous to his arrival in that latitude; and for his further encouragement, the act of 1745, offering a premium for the discovery of the passage, was amended in the manner above mentioned. That nothing might be wanting which could promote the success of the grand expedition, Lieutenant Pickersgill was sent out, in 1776, with directions to explore the coasts of Baffin's bay; and the next year Lieutenant Young was commissioned not only to examine the western parts of that bay, but to endeavour to find a passage on that side from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. Nothing, however, was performed by either of these gentlemen which in the least could promote Captain Cook's success. Two vessels were provided as in the former voyage, viz. the Resolution and the Discovery; the command of the former being given to Captain Cook, and of the latter to Captain Charles Clerke. The only thing in which the appointment of the Discovery differed from that of the Resolution was, that the former had no marine officer on board. Every degree of attention was bestowed, as in the former voyage, upon the proper victualling and other necessaries for the two ships; and that the inhabitants of those countries which our navigator intended to visit might derive some permanent benefit from the intercourse they had with him,

Every thing being prepared for the voyage, our navigator set sail from the Nore on the 25th of June 1776; but by reason of some delay in receiving his instructions, did not leave Plymouth till the 12th of July. He had not been long at sea before he began his operations for preserving the health of his people; which were found equally efficacious in this as in the former voyage. Finding his stock of provender for the animals on board likely to run short, he touched at Teneriffe, in order to procure a supply, having judged that to be a more proper place than Madeira for the purpose. On sailing from thence he ran a great risk of running upon some sunk rocks on the island of Bonavista; but in this, as well as on other occasions of danger, he behaved with the same judgment, coolness, and presence of mind, that distinguished him throughout the whole course of his life. On the 12th of August he arrived before Port Praya, in one of the Cape de Verd islands named St Jago; but not finding it necessary to go in there, be continued his voyage to the southward. The weather now becoming gloomy and rainy, required a continuance of the methods he had already practised for preserving the health of his people; and, as formerly, they were attended with the greatest success. In this voyage, the effect of these precautions was the more remarkable, as at this time the seams of the vessel were opened to such a degree as to admit the rain, so that scarce any person on board could lie dry in his bed; and all the officers in the gun room were driven out of their cabins by the water which came through the sides. Such was the humanity of the commander, however, that while the ships continued at sea, he would not

trust

ed and eaten by the savages. It was not the intention

trust the workmen over their sides to repair the defects, though caulkers were employed in the inside as soon as settled weather returned. On the 1st of September our navigators crossed the equator, and on the 18th of October anchored in Table bay at the Cape of Good Hope. Here they met with a violent tempest, the effects of which were felt both on sea and land. It lasted three days, and the Resolution was the only ship in the bay that rode out the storm without dragging her anchors. On shore the tents and observatory were destroyed, and the astronomical quadrant narrowly escaped irreparable damage. The Discovery, which had been some time later in sailing from England, was driven off the coast, and did not arrive till the 10th of November.

While they remained in this place, a disaster happen. ed which threatened the loss of most of their live stock. The bull and two cows had been put ashore to graze among other cattle; but Captain Cook had been advised to keep the sheep, 16 in number, near the tents, where they were penned in every night. Some dogs having got in among them in the night-time, killed four, and dispersed the rest. Six of them were recovered the next day, but the two rams and two of the finest ewes in the flock were missing. The captain applied to Baron Plettenberg the governor; but all his endeavours were ussuccessful, until he employed some of the meanest and lowest of the people, fellows whose character was, that for a ducatoon they would cut their master's throat, burn the house over his head, and bury him and his whole family in ashes. This is mentioned as an instance how far the boasted policy of the Dutch government at the Cape of Good Hope falls short of its alleged perfection. After all, two of the finest ewes in the flock were missing, and never could be recovered. The captain, therefore, to repair this loss, and to make an addition to his original stock, purchased two young bulls, two stone horses, two mares, two heifers, two rams, several ewes and goats, with some rabbits and poultry; when, having finished all his business, he set sail on the 30th of November, though it was not till the 3d of December that he got clear of land. Soon after his putting to sea, he had the misfortune to lose several of the goats, especially the males, together with some sheep; and it was with the utmost difficulty that the rest of the cattle were preserved, by reason of the ship tossing and tumbling about in a very heavy sea. Having explored some desolate islands in the southern seas, Captain Cook set sail for New Zealand. During this part of the voyage, our navigators were involved in so thick a fog, that, according to the authors of Captain Cook's life," they sailed 300 leagues in the dark." The first land they afterwards reached was New Holland; where having remained till the 30th of January 1777, they set sail for New Zealand, and on the 12th of February they anchored in Queen Charlotte's Sound. Here the people were shy and timorous, on account of their having formerly destroyed 10 of Captain Furneaux's people, who had been sent ashore to gather vegetables. The cause of the quarrel could not be known, as none of the party were left alive to tell the news. Lieutenant Burney, who went ashore in quest of them, found only some fragments of their bodies; from which it appeared that they had been kill

of Captain Cook, at this distance of time, to resent the injury; he even refused to put to death a chief named Kahoora, who, as he was informed by the natives themselves, had killed Mr Rowe the commander of the party. He was, however, particularly careful that no opportunity should now be given the savages of committing such an action with impunity; and with this view a boat was never sent on shore without being well armed, and the men under the command of such officers as could be depended upon. The New Zealanders were no sooner assured of Captain Cook's pacific disposition, than they threw aside their fears and suspicions, and entered into a commercial intercourse with the people. It would have been the less excusable in Captain Cook to have revenged at this time the mas sacre of Mr Rowe's party, as he was assured that the quarrel originated from some petty thefts of the savages, which were too hastily resented on the part of the British; and had it not been for this, no mischief would have happened.

10.

On the 25th of February our navigator left New Zealand, taking with him, at the request of Omai, two boys, the eldest about 18 and the youngest about These were soon cured of their passion for travelling, being both violently sea-sick; but as it was then too late to repent, they expressed their grief in loud and almost continual lamentation; and this in a kind of song which seemed to consist of the praises of their native country, whence they were now to be separated for ever. By degrees, however, the sea-sickness abated, their lamentations became less frequent, and at last ceased entirely; their native country was forgotten, and they appeared to be as firmly attached to their new friends the English as if they had been born among them.

So much time was now spent in sailing up and down in the Pacific ocean, where several new islands were discovered, that Captain Cook judged it impossible to accomplish any thing for this year in the high northern latitudes; for which reason he determined to bear away for the Friendly islands, in order to supply himself with those necessaries which he had found impossible to be got at any of the islands which he had just discovered. In his run thither several new islands were visited; and in prosecuting these discoveries our navigator once more narrowly escaped being shipwrecked. The danger at this time arose from a low sandy island, which the Resolution was very near running upon. From this she was only saved by the circumstance of all the men having been accidentally called upon deck to put the vessel about, and most of them being at their stations when the danger was discovered. Soon after this both ships struck upon some sunk coral rocks, but happily were got off without damage.

After a stay of between two and three months, Captain Cook took leave of the Friendly islands on the 13th of July 1777; and on the 12th of August reached Otaheite, where he introduced Omai to his country people, and whose reception by them is particularly related under the next article. Here the captain found the people of Otaheite ready to engage in a war with those of Eimeo; but though strongly solicited by the former to assist them in an expedition

against

round him, and prostrated themselves before him. No sign of hostility, nor even much alarm, appeared; the king's sons waited on the commander as soon as he sent for them, and by their means he was introduced to the king, who readily consented to go on board; but in a little time the Indians began to arm themselves with long spears, clubs, and daggers, and to put on thick mats which they use as defensive armour. This hostile appearance was greatly augmented by an unlucky piece of news which was just now brought by a canoe, viz. that one of the Indian chiefs had been killed by the people in the Discovery's boats. On this the women, who had hitherto sat on the beach conversing familiarly, and taking their breakfasts, removed, and a confused murmur ran through the crowd. An old priest now appeared with a cocoa-nut in his hand, which he held out as a present to Captain Cook, singing all the while, and making a most troublesome noise, as if he meant to divert the attention of the captain and his people from observing the motions of the Indians, who were now everywhere putting on their armour. Captain Cook beginning to think his situation dangerous, ordered the lieutenant of the marines to march towards the shore, as he himself did, having all the while hold of the king's hand, who very readily accompanied him, attended by his wife, two sons, and several chiefs. The Indians made a lane for them to pass; and as the distance they had to go was only about 50 or 60 yards, and the boats lay at no more than five or six yards distance from land, there was not the least apprehension of the catastrophe which ensued. The king's youngest son Keowa went on board the pinnace without the least hesitation, and the king was about to follow, when his wife threw her arms about his neck, and, with the assistance of two chiefs, forced him to sit down. The captain might now have safely got aboard, but did not immediately relinquish the design of taking the king along with him. Finding at last, however, that this could not be accomplished without a great deal of bloodshed, he was on the point of giving orders for the people to reimbark, when one of the Indians threw a stone at him. This insult was returned by the captain, who had a double barrelled piece, by a discharge of small shot from one of the barrels. This had little effect, as the man had a thick mat before him; and as he now brandished his spear, the captain knocked him down with his musket. The king's son, Keowa, still remaining in the pinnace, the detaining him would have been a great check upon the Indians; but unluckily Mr Roberts, who commanded the pinnace, set him ashore at his own request soon after the first fire. In the mean time another Indian was observed in the act of brandishing his spear at the commander; who thereupon was obliged to fire upon him in his own defence. Missing his aim, however, he killed one close by his side: upon which the serjeant observing that he had missed the man he aimed at, received orders to fire also, which he did, and killed him on the spot. This repressed the foremost of the Indians, and made them fall back in a body; but they were urged on again by those behind, and discharged a volley of stones among the marines, who immediately returned it by a general discharge of their muskets; and this was instantly follow

ed