Transcriber’s Note
When italics were used in the original book, the corresponding text has
been surrounded by _underscores_. Superscripted characters are preceded
by ^ and when more than one character is superscripted, they are
surrounded by {}.
Some corrections have been made to the printed text. These are listed in
a second transcriber’s note at the end of the text.
[Illustration:
_Captain Cook._
_Drawn & Engraved by W. Bond, from the large Picture by George Dance
R.A._
_Published by Longman & C^o. London Sept^r. 6^{th}. 1821._
]
THE
THREE
VOYAGES
OF
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK
ROUND THE WORLD.
COMPLETE
In Seven Volumes.
--------------
_WITH MAP AND OTHER PLATES._
--------------
VOL. I.
BEING THE FIRST OF THE FIRST VOYAGE.
--------------
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR
LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,
PATERNOSTER-ROW.
1821.
LIFE
OF
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK.
--------------
THIS celebrated navigator was the son of a day-labourer, and born at
Marton, a village in Yorkshire, Nov. 3. 1728. At the age of thirteen he
was put to a school, where he learnt writing and arithmetic; after which
he was bound apprentice to a shopkeeper at Snaith, but on discovering an
inclination for the sea, his master gave up his indentures, and he
articled himself for three years to a ship-owner at Whitby. After
serving out his time diligently, he entered in 1755 on board the Eagle
sixty gun ship; and in 1759 he obtained a warrant as master of the
Mercury, in which ship he was present at the taking of Quebec, where he
made a complete draught of the channel and river of St. Laurence, which
chart was published. Mr. Cook was next appointed to the Northumberland,
then employed in the recapture of Newfoundland; and there also he made a
survey of the harbour and coasts. At the latter end of 1762 he returned
to England, and married a young woman of Barking; but early in the next
year he went again to Newfoundland, as surveyor, with Captain Graves,
and he afterwards acted in the same capacity under Sir Hugh Palliser.
While thus employed, he made an observation of an eclipse of the sun,
which he communicated to the Royal Society. It being determined to send
out astronomers to observe the transit of Venus in some part of the
South Sea, Mr. Cook was selected to command the Endeavour, a ship taken
up for that service; and accordingly he was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant, May 25. 1768. Our limits will not allow of giving the
details of this interesting voyage; and therefore we shall content
ourselves with stating, that the transit was observed to great advantage
at Otaheite; after which lieutenant Cook explored the neighbouring
islands, and then shaped his course for New Zealand, which he
circumnavigated, and thus ascertained that it was not a continent. From
thence he sailed to New Holland, or, as it is now called, New South
Wales, where he anchored in Botany Bay, April 28. 1770, an epoch of
great importance in the history of that part of the world. From hence he
sailed to New Guinea, and next to Batavia, where the ship being
refitted, he returned to Europe, and arrived in the Downs, June 12.
1771. For his services on this occasion, Mr. Cook was promoted to the
rank of commander, and an account of his voyage was soon after published
by Dr. Hawkesworth. The interest excited hereby induced government to
send Captain Cook on another voyage of discovery to the southern
hemisphere, and he accordingly sailed with two ships, the Resolution,
commanded by himself, and the Adventure, by Captain Furneaux, April 9.
1772. After proceeding as far as 71° 10ʹ of south latitude, amidst
mountains of ice, and discovering some new islands, our voyagers
returned to England, July 30. 1775. The Resolution in this enterprize
lost only one man out of her whole complement, for which Captain Cook
was elected a member of the Royal Society, and afterwards the gold medal
was voted to him by the same learned body. He was also appointed a
post-captain, and promoted to a valuable situation in Greenwich
hospital. As the narrative of the former voyage had not given
satisfaction, the history of the second was drawn almost wholly from the
captain’s journals, and digested by Dr. Douglas, late bishop of
Salisbury. But the labours of Cook were not to end here. In July 1776 he
sailed again, to decide the long agitated question of a northern passage
to the Pacific Ocean. In this voyage he had two ships, the Resolution
and the Discovery; but after sailing as high as 74° 44ʹ N. the object
was considered impracticable; and on Nov. 26. 1778, the ships arrived at
the Sandwich islands. Here at first they were well received, but at
length the people of Owhyhee stole one of the boats, to recover which
Captain Cook went on shore, with the intention of getting into his
possession the person of the king; but in doing this a crowd assembled,
and the brave commander fell by a club, after which he was dispatched by
a dagger; and his body was carried off in triumph and devoured. This
melancholy event occurred in the morning of the 14th February, 1779.
Captain Cook left a widow and family; on the former a pension of 200_l._
a year was settled by the king, and 25_l._ a-year on each of the
children.
CONTENTS
OF
_THE FIRST VOLUME._
--------------
FIRST VOYAGE.
Page
INTRODUCTION to the first Voyage 3
BOOK I.
CHAP. I.
The Passage from Plymouth to Madeira, with some Account of that 7
Island
CHAP. II.
The Passage from Madeira to Rio de Janeiro, with some Account of 18
the Country, and the Incidents that happened there
CHAP. III.
The Passage from Rio de Janeiro to the Entrance of the Strait of 44
Le Maire, with a Description of some of the Inhabitants of
Terra del Fuego
CHAP. IV.
An Account of what happened in ascending a Mountain to search for 51
Plants
CHAP. V.
The Passage through the Strait of Le Maire, and a further 59
Description of the Inhabitants of Terra del Fuego, and its
Productions
CHAP. VI.
A general Description of the south-east Part of Terra del Fuego, 67
and the Strait of Le Maire; with some Remarks on Lord Anson’s
Account of them, and Directions for the Passage westward, round
this Part of America, into the South Seas
CHAP. VII.
The Sequel of the Passage from Cape Horn to the newly discovered 74
Islands in the South Seas, with a Description of their Figure
and Appearance.—Some Account of the Inhabitants, and several
Incidents that happened during the Course, and at the Ship’s
arrival among them
CHAP. VIII.
The Arrival of the Endeavour at Otaheite, called by Captain 84
Wallis, King George the III.’s Island.—Rules established for
Traffic with the Natives, and an Account of several Incidents
which happened in a Visit to Tootahah and Toubourai Tamaide,
two Chiefs
CHAP. IX.
A Place fixed upon for an Observatory and Fort.—An Excursion into 93
the Woods, and its Consequences.—The Fort erected.—A Visit from
several Chiefs on Board and at the Fort, with some Account of
the Music of the Natives, and the Manner in which they dispose
of their Dead
CHAP. X.
An Excursion to the eastward, an Account of several Incidents 102
that happened both on Board and on Shore, and of the first
Interview with Oberea, the Person who, when the Dolphin was
here, was supposed to be Queen of the Island, with a
Description of the Fort
CHAP. XI.
The Observatory set up.—The Quadrant stolen, and Consequences of 113
the Theft.—A Visit to Tootahah.—Description of a wrestling
Match.—European seeds sown.—Names given to our People by the
Indians
CHAP. XII.
Some Ladies visit the Fort with very uncommon Ceremonies.—The 126
Indians attend Divine Service, and in the Evening exhibit a
most extraordinary spectacle.—Toubourai Tamaide falls into
Temptation
CHAP. XIII.
Another Visit to Tootahah, with various Adventures.—Extraordinary 134
Amusement of the Indians, with Remarks upon it.—Preparations to
observe the Transit of Venus, and what happened in the mean
time at the Fort
CHAP. XIV.
The Ceremonies of an Indian Funeral particularly 144
described.—General Observations on the Subject.—A Character
found among the Indians to which the Ancients paid great
Veneration.—A Robbery at the Fort, and its Consequences; with a
Specimen of Indian Cookery, and various Incidents
CHAP. XV.
An Account of the Circumnavigation of the Island, and various 157
Incidents that happened during the Expedition; with a
Description of a Burying-place and Place of Worship, called a
Morai
CHAP. XVI.
An Expedition of Mr. Banks to trace the River.—Marks of 173
subterraneous Fire.—Preparations for leaving the Island.—An
Account of Tupia
CHAP. XVII.
A particular Description of the Island; its Produce and 184
Inhabitants; their Dress, Habitations, Food, Domestic Life and
Amusements
CHAP. XVIII.
Of the Manufactures, Boats, and Navigation of Otaheite 209
CHAP. XIX.
Of the Division of Time in Otaheite; Numeration, Computation of 225
Distance, Language, Diseases, Disposal of the Dead, Religion,
War, Weapons, and Government; with some general Observations
for the Use of future Navigators
CHAP. XX.
A Description of several other Islands in the Neighbourhood of 245
Otaheite, with various Incidents; a Dramatic Entertainment; and
many Particulars relative to the Customs and Manners of the
Inhabitants