Men who study the stars tell us strange and wonderful things--things
that the unlearned find it hard to understand, and harder still to
believe, yet things that we are now as sure of as we are of the fact
that two and two make four!
There was a time when men said that the sun moved round the earth; and
very natural it was in men to say so, for, to the eye of sense, it looks
as if this were really the case. But those who study the stars have
found out that the earth moves round the sun--a discovery which has been
of the greatest importance to mankind--though the importance thereof
cannot be fully understood except by scientific men.
Among other difficult things, these astronomers have attempted to
measure the distance of the sun, moon, and stars from our earth.
Moreover, they have tried to ascertain the exact size of these celestial
lights, and they have, to a considerable extent, been successful in
their efforts. By their complicated calculations, the men who study the
stars can tell the exact day, hour, and minute when certain events will
happen, such as an eclipse of the sun or of the moon.
Now, about the year 1768 the attention of the scientific world was
eagerly turned to an event which was to take place in the following
year. This was the passage of the planet Venus across the face of the
sun. Astronomers term this the _Transit of Venus_. It happens very
seldom: it occurred in 1769, but not again till 1874, and 1882. By
observing this passage--this transit--of Venus across the sun from
different parts of our earth, it was hoped that such information could
be obtained as would enable us to measure not only the distance of the
sun from the earth with greater accuracy than heretofore, but also the
extent of the whole host of stars that move with our earth around the
sun and form what is called our Solar System.
An opportunity occurring so seldom was not to be lost. Learned men were
sent to all parts of the world to observe the event. Among others,
Captain Cook was sent to the south seas--there, among the far-off coral
isles, to note the passage of a little star across the sun's face--an
apparently trifling, though in reality important, event in the history
of science.
So much for the object of Cook's first voyage. Let us now turn to the
details thereof.
The vessel chosen by him for his long and dangerous voyage to unknown
seas was a small one of only 370 tons burden. It was named the
_Endeavour_. The crew consisted of forty-one seamen, twelve marines,
and nine servants--these, with the officers and the scientific men of
the expedition, made up a body of eighty-five persons.
The scientific men above mentioned were, Mr Green, an astronomer; Mr
Banks, a naturalist, who afterwards became Sir Joseph Banks and a
celebrated man; Doctor Solander, who was also a naturalist; and two
draughtsmen, one of whom was skilled in drawing objects of natural
history, the other in taking views of scenery.
The _Endeavour_ was victualled for a cruise of eighteen months. She was
a three-masted vessel of the barque rig, and carried twenty-two large
guns, besides a store of small arms,--for the region of the world to
which they were bound was inhabited by savages, against whom they might
find it necessary to defend themselves.
When all was ready, Captain Cook hoisted his flag, and spread his sails,
and, on the 26th of August 1768, the voyage began--England soon dropped
out of sight astern, and ere long the blue sky above and the blue sea
below were all that remained for the eyes of the navigators to rest
upon.
It is a wonderful thought, when we come to consider it, the idea of
_going to sea_! To sailors who are used to it, the thought, indeed, may
be very commonplace, and to lazy minds that are not much given to think
deeply upon any subject, the thought may not appear very wonderful; but
it is so, nevertheless, to us, men of the land, when we calmly sit down
and ponder the idea of making to ourselves a house of planks and beams
of wood, launching it upon the sea, loading it with food and
merchandise, setting up tall poles above its roof, spreading great
sheets thereon, and then rushing out upon the troubled waters of the
great deep, there, for days and nights, for weeks and months, and even
years, to brave the fury of the winds and waves, with nothing between us
and death except a wooden plank, some two or three inches thick!
It seems a bold thing for man to act in this fashion, even when he is
accustomed to it, and when he knows all about the sea which he sails
over; but when, like Cook, he knows very little about the far-off ocean
to which he is bound, his boldness seems and really is, much greater.
It is this very uncertainty, however, that charms the minds of
enterprising men, and gives interest to such voyages.
The Bible says, "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business
in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the
deep." Navigators in all ages have borne testimony to the truth of
this. The very first pages in Cook's journal mention some of these
wonders. He says that, while they were off the coast of Spain, Mr
Banks and Dr Solander, the naturalists, had an opportunity of observing
some very curious marine animals, some of which were like jelly, and so
colourless that it was difficult to see them in the water except at
night, when they became luminous, and glowed like pale liquid fire.
One, that was carefully examined, was about three inches long, and an
inch thick, with a hollow passing quite through it, and a brown spot at
one end, which was supposed to be its stomach. Four of these, when
first taken up out of the sea in a bucket, were found to be adhering
together, and were supposed to be one animal; but on being put into a
glass of water they separated and swam briskly about. Many of them
resembled precious stones, and shone in the water with bright and
beautiful colours. One little animal of this kind lived several hours
in a glass of salt water, swimming about with great agility, and at
every motion displaying a change of colours.
These _Medusae_, as they are called, have been spoken of by many
travellers, who tell us that in some parts of the sea they are so
numerous that the whole ocean is covered with them, and seems to be
composed of liquid fire, usually of a pale blue or green colour. The
appearance is described as being of great splendour. Even in the seas
on our own coasts this beautiful light is often seen. It is called
phosphoric light. Something of the same kind may be seen in the carcass
of a decaying fish if taken into a dark room.
Not long after this, they saw flying-fish. Cook says that when seen
from the cabin windows they were beautiful beyond imagination, their
sides having the colour and brightness of burnished silver. When seen
from the deck they did not look so beautiful, because their backs were
of a dark colour. It must not be supposed that these fish could fly
about in the air like birds. They can only fly a few yards at a time.
They usually rise suddenly from the waves, fly as if in a great hurry,
not more than a yard or two above the surface, and then drop as suddenly
back into the sea as they rose out of it. The two fins near the
shoulders of the fish are very long, so that they can be used as wings
for these short flights. When chased by their enemy, the dolphin,
flying-fish usually take a flight in order to escape. They do not,
however, appear to be able to use their eyes when out of the water, for
they have been seen to fly against ships at sea, get entangled in the
rigging, and fall helpless on the deck. They are not quite so large as
a herring, and are considered very good eating.
On drawing near to Cape Horn, on the extreme south of South America, the
voyagers began to prepare for bad weather, for this Cape is notorious
for its storms. Few mariners approach the Horn without some
preparation, for many a good ship has gone to the bottom in the gales
that blow there.
It was here that they first fell in with savages. The ship having
approached close to that part of the land named Tierra del Fuego,
natives were observed on shore. As Mr Banks and Dr Solander were
anxious to visit them, a boat was lowered and sent ashore. They landed
near a bay in the lee of some rocks where the water was smooth. Thirty
or forty of the Indians soon made their appearance at the end of a sandy
beach on the other side of the bay, but seeing that there were twelve
Europeans in the boat they were afraid, and retreated. Mr Banks and
Dr Solander then advanced about one hundred yards, on which two of the
Indians returned, and, having advanced some paces, sat down. As soon as
the gentlemen came up the savages rose and each threw away a small stick
which he had carried in his hand. This was intended for a sign of
peace. They then walked briskly towards their companions, who had
halted about fifty yards behind them, and beckoned the gentlemen to
follow, which they did. They were received with many uncouth signs of
friendship, and, in return, gave the savages some beads and ribbons,
which greatly delighted them.
A feeling of good-will having been thus established, the two parties
joined and tried to hold converse by means of signs. Three of the
Indians agreed to accompany them back to the ship, and when they got on
board one of the wild visitors began to go through some extraordinary
antics. When he was taken to any new part of the ship, or when he was
shown any new thing, he shouted with all his force for some minutes,
without directing his voice either to the people of the ship or to his
companions.
Some beef and bread being given to them, they ate it, but did not seem
to relish it much. Nevertheless, such of it as they did not eat they
took away with them. But they would not swallow a drop either of wine
or spirits. They put the glass to their lips, but, having tasted the
liquor, they returned it with looks of disgust.
Cook says he was much surprised at the want of curiosity in these
savages of the Cape, and seems to have formed a very low opinion of
them. They were conducted all over the ship, yet, although they saw a
vast number of beautiful and curious things that must have been quite
new to them, they did not give vent to any expression of wonder or
pleasure--for the howling above spoken of did not seem to be either,--
and when they returned to land they did not seem anxious to tell what
they had seen, neither did their comrades appear desirous of hearing
anything about their visit to the ship. Altogether, they seemed a much
lower race of people than the inhabitants of the South-Sea Islands whom
Cook afterwards visited.