CHAPTER IV.

CAPTAIN COOK'S SECOND VOYAGE.

I.

Search for the Southern Continent--Second stay at New Zealand--

Pomontou Archipelago--Second stay at Tahiti--Reconnoitring Tonga

Isles--Third stay at New Zealand--Second crossing of the Southern

Ocean--Easter Island reconnoitred--Visit to the Marquesas Islands.

Had the government not been desirous of rewarding James Cook for the

way in which he had fulfilled the mission entrusted to him, the

unanimous voice of the public would have constrained them. On the 29th

of August he received the rank of commander in the Royal Navy. But the

great navigator, proud of the services he had rendered to England and

to science, thought the reward less than his achievements merited. He

would have delighted in an appointment as ship's captain, but Lord

Sandwich, who was then at the head of the Admiralty, pointed out to

him, that it was not possible to gratify him without upsetting all

established customs, and injuring the discipline of the Royal Navy.

However, Cook busied himself in putting together the necessary

materials for the narration of his experiences; but, being soon

occupied with still more important matters, he placed them in the

hands of Dr. Hawkesworth, who was to superintend their publication.

At the same time, the observations he had taken on the transit of

Mercury in concert with Mr. Green, his calculations and astronomical

solutions, were submitted to the consideration of the Royal Society,

and that learned body at once recognized his merit.

In one respect, however, the important results obtained by Cook were

incomplete. He had not perfectly proved the impossibility of an

antarctic continent. This chimera was still dear to the hearts of

scientific men. Although obliged to admit that neither New Zealand nor

Australia made part of such a continent, and that the _Endeavour_ had

navigated in latitudes in which it might have been found, they still

affirmed that it would be found still more south, and reiterated all

those advantages which its discovery would entail.

The government determined to settle a question which had been

discussed for so many years, and to despatch an expedition for the

purpose. Its commander was easily selected. The nature of the voyage

demanded vessels of peculiar construction. As the _Endeavour_ had been

sent to the Falkland Islands, the Admiralty gave orders for the

purchase of the two suitable vessels for the purpose.

Cook was consulted, and insisted that the ships should be solidly

built, draw little water, and possess capacity for carrying provisions

and ammunition in proportion to the number of the crew and the length

of the voyage.

The Admiralty accordingly bought two vessels, constructed at Whitby,

by the same ship-builder as the _Endeavour_. The larger was of 462

tons burden, and was named the _Resolution_, the second was only of

336 tons, and was called the _Adventure_.

Cook received command of the _Resolution_, and Captain Tobias Furneaux,

second lieutenant of the _Wallis_, was raised to the command of the

_Adventure_. The second and third officers, and several of the crew

had already served in the _Endeavour_.

It may readily be imagined that every possible care was taken in the

equipment of these ships. Lord Sandwich and Captain Palliser

themselves superintended every detail.

Each of the ships was stocked with provisions of every kind for two

years and a half.

Very extraordinary articles were provided at the instance of Captain

Cook, who claimed them as anti-scorbutics, for instance, malt, sour

krout, salted cabbages, soup-slabs, mustard and saloop, as well as

carrot marmalade, and thickened and unfermented beer, which was tried

at the suggestion of Baron Storch of Berlin, and Mr. Pelham, secretary

to the Commissariat department.

Equal care was taken to ship two small boats, each of twenty tons,

intended to carry the crew in case of shipwreck.

William Hodges, a landscape painter, two naturalists, John Reinhold

Forster and his son George; two astronomers, W. Wales and W. Bayley,

accompanied the expedition, provided with the best instruments for

observation.

Nothing that could conduce to the success of the adventure was

neglected. It was to return with an immense amount of collected

information, which was to contribute to the progress of the natural

and physical sciences, and to the ethnology of navigation and

geography.

Cook says, "I received my instructions at Plymouth dated 25th June.

They enjoined my immediate departure for the island of Madeira. To

ship wine there, and thence to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, where

I was to let the crew have a spree on shore, and obtain the provisions

and other stores I needed. To advance southwards and endeavour to find

Circumcision Cape, which was said to have been discovered by M. Bouvet,

in the 54 degrees southern parallel, and about 11 degrees 20 minutes

east longitude, reckoning from Greenwich. If I found this cape, to

ascertain whether it was part of the continent or an island. Should it

prove the former, to neglect no opportunity of investigating its

possible extent. To collect facts of every kind which might be useful

to navigation and commerce, or would tend to the progress of the

natural sciences. I was desired to observe the spirit, temperament,

character, and means of the inhabitants, should there be any, and to

use every fair means of forming friendly alliances with them.

"My instructions proceeded to enjoin me to seek discoveries in the

east or west, according to the position in which I might find myself,

and advised my nearing the south pole as much as possible, and as long

as the condition of the ships, the health of the crew, and the

provisions allowed of my doing so. To be careful in any case to

reserve sufficient provisions to reach some known port, where I might

refit for my return to England.

"In addition, I was ordered, if I found Circumcision Cape to be an

island, or if I did not succeed in finding it, in the first case to

take the necessary bearings, and in both to sail southward as long as

I still hoped to find the continent. Then to proceed eastward, to look

for this continent, and to discover the islands which might be

situated in this part of the southern hemisphere. To remain in high

latitudes and to prosecute my discoveries, as had been already said,

as near the pole as possible, until I had completed the navigation of

the world, and finally to repair to the Cape of Good Hope, and from

thence to Spithead."

Cook left Plymouth harbour on the 13th of July, and on the 29th of the

same month he arrived at Funchal, in Madeira. Here he took in

provisions, and continued his route southwards. But being shortly

convinced that his supply of water would not hold out until he reached

the Cape of Good Hope, he determined to break the voyage by putting in

at Cape Verd Islands, and on the 10th of August he anchored in Praya

Port, which he left four days later.

Cook availed himself of his stay in this port, as he usually did, to

collect every fact which might be useful to navigators. His

description is the more valuable now, as these parts have completely

changed in character, and the conditions of a stay in port have been

greatly modified by the improvements accomplished there.

On the 23rd of the same month, after violent squalls which had driven

every one on deck, Cook, aware of the pernicious effect of the damp of

warm climates, and always on the alert to keep his crew in good health,

gave orders to aerate (renew the air) in the between decks. He even

had a fire lighted in order to smoke it, and dry it quickly, and not

only took the precautions advocated by Lord Sandwich, and Sir Hugh

Palliser, but also those which the experience of his last voyage

suggested to him.

Thanks to all these efforts at prevention there was not a single sick

case on board the _Resolution_ when she arrived at the Cape of Good

Hope on the 30th of October. Cook, in company with Captain Furneaux,

and Messrs. Foster, went to pay a visit to the Dutch governor, Baron

de Plettemberg, who placed all the resources of the colony at his

disposal. There he found that two French ships, which had left the

island of Mauritius in March, had touched at the Cape before

proceeding to the southern seas where they were to prosecute

discoveries, under command of Captain Marion.

During this stay in port, which was longer than they expected, Forster

met the Swedish botanist Sparman, a pupil of Linnaeus, and engaged him

to accompany him, by promising him large pay. It is difficult to

praise Forster's disinterestedness under these circumstances too

highly. He had no hesitation in admitting a rival, and even paid his

expenses, in order to add completeness to the studies in natural

history which he wished to make in the countries he was about to visit.

Anchor was weighed on the 22nd of November, and the two ships resumed

their course southwards, in search of Cape Circumcision, discovered by

Captain Bouvet, on the 1st of January, 1739. As the temperature would

rapidly become colder, Cook distributed the warm clothes, furnished by

the Admiralty, to his sailors. From the 29th of November till the 6th

of December a frightful tempest prevailed. The ships, driven out of

their course, were carried to the east, to such a degree that they

were forced to resume the search for Circumcision Cape. Another

consequence of the bad weather, and of the sudden change from heat to

extreme cold was the death of all the animals embarked at the Cape.

And lastly, the sailors suffered so much from the damp, that it was

necessary to increase the rations of brandy to stimulate them to work.

On the 10th of December, in 50 degrees 40 minutes southern latitude

the first ice was met with. Rain and snow succeeded each other

uninterruptedly. The fog soon became so dense, that the crews did not

perceive a floating iceberg, until they were a mile past it. "One of

these," says the narrative, "was not less than 200 feet high, 400 wide,

and 2000 long.

"Taking it as probable, that this piece was of absolutely equal size,

its depth beneath the water, would have been 1800 feet, and its height

about 2000 feet, and from the dimensions just given its entire bulk

must have contained 1600 million cubic feet of ice."

[Illustration: Among the icebergs.]

As they proceeded further south the icebergs increased. The sea was so

rough, that the waves climbed these glacial blocks, and fell on the

other side in fine impalpable dust. The scene filled the observers

with admiration. But this was soon succeeded by terror, upon the

reflection that if the vessel struck one of these enormous masses, she

must be dashed to pieces. The presence of danger soon, however,

produced indifference, and more thought was bestowed upon the sublime

beauty, than upon the strife with this terrible element.

Upon the 14th of December, an enormous iceberg, which closed in the

horizon, prevented the two vessels from proceeding southwards, and it

became absolutely necessary to skirt it.

It did not present an unbroken surface, for hillocks were visible on

it, similar to those met on the previous days. Some thought they

distinguished land under the ice, even Cook for the moment was

deceived, but as the fog lifted the mistake was easily rectified.

Next day the vessels were driven before a strong current. The elder

Forster and Wales, the astronomer, embarked in a small boat to

ascertain its swiftness. Whilst thus engaged, the fog became so dense,

that they completely lost sight of the ship. In this miserable boat,

without instruments or provisions, in the midst of the wide ocean, far

from any coast, surrounded by ice, their situation was dreadful. They

left off rowing, lest they should get farther from the ship. They were

losing all hope when the sound of a distant bell fell upon their ears.

They rowed swiftly in the direction of the sound. The _Adventure_

replied to their shouts and picked them up after several hours of

terrible suspense.

The generally received opinion was, that the ice floats collected in

the bays or mouths of rivers. The explorers, therefore, imagined

themselves near land, which would prove to be situated in the south

behind the vast iceberg.

They were thirty leagues to the west of it, before they found an

opening in the ice which might lead to the south. The captain then

determined to steer an equal distance to the east. Should he not find

land, he at least hoped to double the iceberg, and penetrate in

advance of it to the pole, and thereby settle the doubts of all the

physicists.

But although it was the middle of summer in this part of the world,

the cold became daily more intense. The sailors complained of it, and

symptoms of scurvy appeared on board.

Warmer clothes were distributed, and recourse was had to the remedies

usual in such cases, malt and lemon-juice, which soon overcame the

malady, and enabled the crews to bear the severity of the temperature.

On the 29th of December, Cook ascertained positively that the iceberg

was joined to no land. He therefore decided to proceed eastward as far

as the parallel of Cape Circumcision, that is, if no obstacle

prevented him.

He had scarcely put this resolve into execution when the wind became

so violent, and the sea so rough, that navigation, in the midst of

floating ice, which crashed with a fearful noise, became most perilous.

The danger increased, when a field of ice extending beyond the range

of vision was seen to the north. There seemed every prospect of the

ships being imprisoned for many weeks, "hemmed in," to use the

expression of whalers, if indeed they did not run the risk of being

crushed at once.

Cook neither tried to run to the west or east, he steered straight for

the south. He was now in the latitude attributed to Cape Circumcision,

and seventy leagues south of the position assigned to it. Hence he

concluded that if land existed as stated by Bouvet (which is now known

to be a fact) it could only be an inconsiderable island, and not a

large continent.

The captain had no further reason for remaining in these latitudes. In

67 degrees 15 minutes southern latitude a new ice barrier, running

from east to west closed the passage for him, and he could find no

opening in it. Prudence enjoined his remaining no longer in this

region, for two-thirds of the summer were already passed. He therefore

determined to seek, with no further delay, the land recently

discovered by the French.

On the 1st of February, 1773, the vessels were in 48 degrees 30

minutes south latitude, and 38 degrees 7 minutes west longitude, very

nearly the parallel attributed to St. Maurice Island.

After a fruitless cruise, productive of no results, they were forced

to conclude, that if there really were land in these latitudes it

could only be a small island, otherwise it could not have escaped

their search.

[Illustration: New Zealand war canoe. (Fac-simile of early

engraving.)]

On the 8th of February, the captain found to his dismay that the

_Adventure_ was no longer sailing with him. He waited in vain for two

days, firing at close intervals and keeping great fires upon the deck

all night. The _Resolution_ had to continue her voyage alone.

On the morning of the 17th of February, between twelve and three

o'clock, the crew witnessed a magnificent spectacle, then first seen

by European eyes. It was an aurora borealis. "The officer of the

watch," says the narrative, "noticed that from time to time rays left

it in spiral and circular forms, and that then its brilliancy

increased, which gave it an extremely beautiful appearance. It

appeared to have no particular bearing, but remained motionless in the

heavens, which it filled entirely from time to time, by throwing its

light to all parts."

After another attempt to pass the arctic circle, an attempt, which the

fogs, the rain, the snow, and the ice-blocks forced him to relinquish,

Cook resumed his course to the north, convinced that he left no large

land behind him, and regained New Zealand, which he had agreed upon

with the _Adventure_ as a rendezvous in the event of separation.

On the 25th of March he cast anchor in Dusky Bay, after one hundred

and seventy consecutive days of sea, in which he had not made less

than three thousand six hundred and sixty leagues, without one sight

of land.

As soon as he could find suitable anchorage, the captain hastened to

avail himself of the resources for feeding his crew, which the country

furnished in fowls, fish, and vegetables, whilst he himself, generally

with the plumb-line in his hand, traversed the environs of the bay. He

met only a few natives, with whom he had little intercourse. But one

family becoming somewhat familiarized, established itself a hundred

yards from the landing-place. Cook gave a concert for them, in which

the fife and cornet were lavished on them in vain, the New Zealanders

awarded the palm to the drum!

On the 18th of April, a chief came on board with his daughter. But

before entering the ship he rapped her sides with a green wand he held

in his hand, and addressed an harangue or invocation in modulated

accents, to the strangers, a very general custom with the islanders of

the southern sea. Scarcely was his foot on deck, when he offered the

captain a bit of cloth, and a green talc hatchet, an unprecedented act

of generosity for a New Zealander.

The chief visited every part of the ship. In order to testify his

gratitude to the captain he plunged his fingers into a bag at his

waist, and offered to anoint his hair with the tainted oil it

contained. Cook had much difficulty in escaping from this proof of

affection, which had not been very pleasing to Byron in the Strait of

Magellan, but the painter Hodges was forced to submit to the operation,

to the amusement of the entire crew. The chief then departed, to

return no more, taking with him nine hatchets, and thirty pairs of

carpenter's scissors, which the officers had given him. Richer than

all the New Zealanders put together, he no doubt hastened to stow away

his treasures, in the fear that some one would deprive him of them.

Before leaving Cook landed five geese, the last of those he had

brought from the Cape, thinking that they would multiply in this

little inhabited spot, and he had a plot of land cleared in which he

planted kitchen garden seeds. Thus he worked at the same time for the

natives and for the future navigators who should find precious

resources here.

When Cook had completed the hydrographical survey of Dusky Bay, he

started for Queen Charlotte's Sound, the rendezvous assigned to

Captain Furneaux.

On the 17th of May the crew witnessed a magnificent spectacle. Six

water-spouts, one of them sixty feet wide at its base, were visible a

hundred feet from the ship in succession, drawing the clouds and sea

into communication by their powerful suction. This phenomenon lasted

three quarters of an hour, and the first feeling of fear which it

awakened in the breasts of the crew was soon merged in one of

admiration, the greater as at this time such marvels were little known.

Next day, just as the _Resolution_ entered Queen Charlotte's Sound,

the _Adventure_ was seen, and proved to have been waiting for six

weeks. Furneaux, after reaching Van Diemen's Land on the 1st of March,

had coasted it for seventeen days, but he was forced to desist before

ascertaining whether it was, as he supposed, a part of New Holland.

The refutation of this error was reserved for the surgeon, Bass. On

the 9th of April after reaching Queen's Charlotte's Sound, the captain

of the _Adventure_ had profited by his leisure to lay out a garden and

to open relations with the natives, who had furnished him with

irresistible proofs of their cannibalism.

Before he continued his voyage of discovery, Cook followed the same

line of conduct as at Dusky Bay. He landed a ram and a sheep, a goat

and a she-goat, a pig and a sow. He also planted potatoes, which only

existed upon the more southerly of the two islands which form New

Zealand.

The natives resembled those of Dusky Bay, but they appeared more

thoughtless, ran from room to room during supper, and devoured

everything that was offered to them. It was impossible to induce them

to taste wine or brandy, but they were very partial to sugar and water.

Cook says,--

"They laid hands on all they saw, but they gave up anything so soon as

we made them understand by signs that we could not, or would not give

it to them. They particularly admired glass bottles, which they called

Tawhaw, but when the durability and use of iron was explained to them

they preferred it to glass-ware, ribbons, or white paper. Amongst them

were several women, whose lips were covered with little holes, painted

a blueish black, whilst vivid red formed of chalk and oil, covered

their cheeks. Like the natives of Dusky Bay, they had small legs and

bodies, but thick knees, which proves that they take little exercise

and sit cross-legged. The almost perpetual squatting in their pirogues

no doubt also adds to these peculiarities.

"The colour of their skin is clear brown, their hair is very black,

their faces are round, their nose and lips are somewhat thick but not

flat, their eyes are black and bright enough, and tolerably expressive.

"Placed in a row, the natives took off their outer garments, and one

of them sang a rough sort of song, the others accompanying him with

gestures. They stretched out their hands, and alternately struck their

feet against the ground with frantic contortions. The last words they

repeated in chorus, and we easily distinguished a sort of metre, but I

am not sure that there was any rhyme; the music was wild and

monotonous."

Some of the New Zealanders begged for news of Tupia, and when they

heard of his death, they expressed their grief by a kind of

lamentation plainly artificial.

Cook did not recognize a single native whom he had met on his first

voyage. He naturally concluded that the natives who in 1770 inhabited

the Sound had been chased out, or had gone elsewhere of their free

will. The number of inhabitants, too, was reduced by a third, the

"pah" was deserted, as well as a number of cabins along the coast.

[Illustration: New Zealand utensils and weapons.]

The two ships being ready to return to sea, Cook gave instructions to

Captain Furneaux. He wished to advance southward between 41 degrees to

46 degrees S. lat. up to 140 degrees west longitude, and if he found

no land, to steer towards Tahiti, which was appointed as the place of

rendezvous. He then proposed to return to New Zealand and survey all

the unknown parts of the sea between that island and Cape Horn.

Towards the end of July, after a few days' hot weather, scurvy again

broke out on board the _Adventure_. The _Resolution_ escaped the

scourge, owing to the precautions from which Cook never departed for a

single day, and the example which he himself set of constantly eating

celery and scurvy grass.

On the 1st of July, the two vessels were in S. lat. 25 degrees 1

minute, and 134 degrees 6 minutes W. long., the situation which

Carteret attributed to Pitcairn Island. Cook endeavoured to find it,

but, to his great regret, the illness on board the _Adventure_

shortened his cruise.

He was anxious to verify or rectify the longitude of this island, and

by so doing, that of all the surrounding lands discovered by Carteret,

which had not been confirmed by astronomical observations. But having

no longer any hope of finding an Antarctic continent, he set sail for

the north-west, and soon reconnoitred several of the islands seen by

Bougainville.

"The outlying islands with which the Pacific Ocean abounds between the

tropics," he says, "are on a level with the waves in the low parts,

and raised only a rood or two above them in the others. Their shape is

often circular. In the centre they contain a basin of sea water, and

the depth of water all round is not to be sounded. They produce

little; cocoa-nuts appear to be the best of their productions; yet in

spite of this sterility, and of their small extent, most of them are

inhabited. It is not easy to conceive how these little settlements

were peopled, and it is not less difficult to determine from whence

the highest islands of the Southern Sea drew their inhabitants."

On the 15th of April, Cook reconnoitred Osnaburgh or Mairea Islands,

discovered by Wallis, and set off for Otaiti-Piha, where he intended

to embark as many provisions as possible before reaching Matavai.

"At daybreak," says Forster, "we rejoiced in one of those beautiful

mornings which poets of every country have tried to paint. A light

breeze brought a delicious perfume from the land, and ruffled the

surface of the water. The forest-capped mountains elevated their

majestic heads, over which the rising sun shed his beams. Close to us

we saw a ridge of hills, of gentler ascent, but wooded like the first,

and pleasantly intermixed with green and brown tints; below, a plain

adorned with breadfruit-trees, and a quantity of palms in the

background, overshadowing the delightful groves. All seemed still

asleep. Dawn was but just breaking, and the country was wrapped in

peaceful darkness. Yet we could perceive the houses amid the trees,

and the pirogues on the shore. Half a mile from the beach, the waves

broke over a reach of rocks level with the sea, and nothing could

equal the tranquillity of the interior flow of the harbour. The

day-star shed its lustre on the plain; the natives rose, and by

degrees added life to this charming scene. At the sight of our vessels,

several launched their pirogues in haste, and paddled towards us, as

we were happily watching them. We little thought that we were going to

run into great danger, and that destruction would soon threaten the

vessels and their crews on this fortunate coast."

Skilful the writer, happy the painter, who knew how to find such fresh

and varied colours! This enchanting picture is conveyed in a few words.

One regrets not having accompanied this bold sailor, this scientist

who so well understood Dame Nature! Unfortunately we could not visit

these innocent and peaceable inhabitants in that age of gold to which

our own century offers a painful comparison.

The vessels were half a league from a reef, when the wind fell. In

spite of every effort, the ships were driven upon the rocks, in the

very sight of the much-coveted land, when a clever manoeuvre of the

captain's, ably seconded by the tide and the land breeze, came to

their rescue. They had, however, received some injuries, and the

_Adventure_ lost three anchors.

The ships were surrounded by a crowd of pirogues, and every variety of

fruit was exchanged for glass beads. Still the natives offered neither

fowls nor pigs. Those that were seen near the cabins belonged to the

king, and they had no right to sell them. Several of the Tahitans

begged for news of Banks and the companions of Cook's earlier voyage.

Some also inquired for news of Tupia, but they spoke no more of him

when they had learned the circumstances of his death.

Next day, the two vessels anchored in the roadstead of Otaiti-Piha,

two cable-lengths from the shore, and were besieged by visitors and

traffickers.

Some profited by the crush to throw the merchandize they had already

sold into their canoes, that they might sell it over again. To put a

stop to this trick, Cook drove the perpetrators away, after having

flogged them, a punishment which they accepted without complaining.

In the afternoon the two captains landed, to examine the watering

place, which they found very convenient. During their absence a crowd

of natives came on board, and amply confirmed the unenviable

reputation they had acquired in the earlier records of Bougainville

and Cook.

"One of the officers, standing on the quarter-deck," says the

narrative, "desiring to give a child six years old, in one of the

pirogues, some glass beads, let them fall into the sea. The child at

once jumped into the water and dived until he recovered them. To

reward his skill, he threw other trifles to him, a generosity which

tempted a crowd of men and women, who amused us by their surprising

agility in the waves. Their easy attitudes in the water, and the

suppleness of their limbs, made them like amphibious animals."

But the Tahitans who came on board were detected in several acts of

theft. One of them, who remained for the greater part of the day in

Cook's bedroom, hastened to jump into the sea, and the captain,

enraged by his conduct, had shots fired over his head. A boat, sent to

take the pirogues of the robbers, was assailed with stones until it

reached the shore, and it was only after a discharge of shot that the

assailants determined to retreat. These hostilities led to no result,

the natives came on board as if nothing had occurred.

Cook learned from them that the greater part of his old friends from

the neighbourhood of Matavai had fallen in a battle between the

inhabitants of the two peninsulas.

The officers made many excursions on land. Forster, animated by an

ardour for botanical research, missed none of them. In one of these he

witnessed the method employed by the Tahitans in preparing their

stuffs.

"We had gone but a few paces," he says, "when a noise from the forest

struck upon our ears. Following the sounds, we reached a little tent,

where five or six women sitting upon either side of a large square

piece of wood, were thrashing the fibrous bark of mulberry-trees to

fabricate their stuffs. For this purpose they used a bit of square

wood, with long parallel grooves more or less hollowed, according to

the different sides. They paused a moment to enable us to examine the

bark, the hammer, and the beam which served them for a table.

"They also showed us a kind of gum-water in a large cocoa-nut which

they used from time to time to join the various bits of bark together.

"This glue, which appears to us to be obtained from the 'Hibiscus

Esculentus,' is absolutely needful in the fabrication of the stuff,

which being occasionally two or three yards wide and fifty long, are

composed of small pieces of the bark. The women employed at this work

wore very old and ragged clothes and their hands were hard and

knotted."

The same day Forster saw a man with very long nails, of which he was

immensely proud, as proving that he was not obliged to work for his

bread. In Annam, in China and other countries, this singular and

ridiculous fashion is common. A single finger is kept with a shorter

nail, being the one used to scratch with, a very frequent occupation

in the extreme East.

In another of his walks Forster saw a native, who passed his days in

being fed by his wives, quietly lying upon a carpet of thick shrubs.

This melancholy person, who fattened without rendering any service to

society, recalled Sir John Mandeville's anger at seeing "such a

glutton who passed his days without distinguishing himself by any

feats of arms, and who lived in pleasure, as a pig which one fattens

in a sty."

[Illustration: "Who passed his days in being fed by his wives."]

On the 22nd of August, Cook having learned that King Waheatua was in

the neighbourhood, and being desirous of seeing him, landed with

Captain Furneaux, the Forsters, and several natives. He met him

advancing towards him with a numerous suite, and recognized him at

once as he had seen him several times in 1769.

This king was then a child, and was called Te Aree, but he had changed

his name at the death of his father Waheatua. He made the captain sit

down on his stool, and inquired solicitously for the various

Englishmen he had known on the former voyage. Cook, after the usual

compliments, presented him with a shirt, a hatchet, some nails, and

other trifles. But of all his presents, that which appeared most

precious to him, and which excited most cries of admiration from his

followers, was a tuft of red feathers mounted upon iron wire.

Waheatua, king of Little Tahiti, was about seventeen or eighteen years

of age. Tall and well made, his appearance would have been majestic,

but for a look of fear and distrust.

He was surrounded by several chiefs and noble personages, remarkable

for their height, and one of whom, tattooed in a peculiar manner, was

enormously stout. The king, who showed him great deference, consulted

him every moment. Cook then learned that a Spanish vessel had put into

Tahiti a few months previously, and he afterwards ascertained that it

was that of Domingo Buenechea, which came from Callao.

Whilst Etee, the king's confidant, conversed with some officers upon

religious subjects, and asked the English if they had a god, Waheatua

amused himself with the captain's watch. Astonished at the noise it

made, and venting his surprise in the words, "It speaks!" he inquired

of what use it was.

It was explained to him that it told the time, and in that respect

resembled the sun. Waheatua gave it the name of the "little sun," to

show that he understood the explanation.

The vessels sailed on the morning of the 24th, and were followed for a

long time by numbers of pirogues bearing cocoa-nuts and fruit. Rather

than lose this opportunity of obtaining European commodities, the

natives parted with their wares very cheaply; a dozen cocoa-nuts could

be obtained for one glass bead.

The abundant fresh provisions soon restored the health of all on board

the vessels, and most of the sailors, who on reaching Osnaburgh could

scarcely walk, could get about well when they left.

The _Resolution_ and _Adventure_ reached Matavai Bay on the 26th. A

crowd of Tahitians soon invaded the deck. Most of them were known to

the captain, and Lieutenant Pickersgill, who had accompanied Wallis in

1767, and Cook two years later, received a warm welcome from them.

Cook had tents erected for the sick, the sail-menders, and the coopers,

and then left with Captain Furneaux and the two Forsters for Oparree.

The boat which took them soon passed a "morai" of stones, and a

cemetery known as the "morai of Tootahah." When Cook called it by this

name, one of the natives who accompanied him interrupted him by saying

that since Tootahah's death it was called O Too.

"A fine lesson for princes, who thus in their lives are reminded that

they are mortal, and that after their death the earth which contains

their corpse will not be their own. The chief and his wife removed the

upper garments from their shoulders as they passed, a mark of respect

which natives of all ranks exhibit before a 'morai,' as they appear to

attach a particular idea of sanctity to these places."

Cook soon gained admittance to the presence of King O-Too. After many

compliments he offered him all that he thought he had which would

please him, because he appreciated the advantage this man's friendship

would be to him, for his every word showed timidity of disposition.

Tall and well made, the king was about thirty years old. He inquired

after Tupia and Cook's companions, although he had seen none of them.

Many presents were distributed to those of his cortege who appeared

the most influential.

[Illustration: O-Too, King of Otaheite. (Fac-simile of early

engraving.)]

"The women sent their servants to find large pieces of their finest

stuffs, tinted scarlet, rose, and straw colour, and perfumed with the

most odoriferous oil. They placed them over our outer clothing, and so

loaded us that we could scarcely move."

O-Too paid the captain a visit on the morrow. He only came on board

after Cook had been enveloped in a considerable quantity of the most

costly native stuff, and he dared not go below until his brother had

first done so. The king and his suite were seated for breakfast, at

which the natives went into ecstasies over the usefulness of chairs.

O-Too would not taste anything, but his companions were far from

following his example. He greatly admired a beautiful spaniel

belonging to Forster and expressed a wish to possess it. It was at

once given to him, and he had it carried behind him by one of his

lords-in-waiting. After breakfast the captain himself conducted O-Too

to his sloop, and Captain Furneaux gave him a pair of goats. Upon an

excursion to the interior, Mr. Pickersgill met the aged Oberea, who

appeared to have lost all her honours, and she was so poor that it was

impossible for her to give a present to her friends.

When Cook left on the 1st of September, a young Tahitian, named Poreo,

begged to accompany him. The captain consented, hoping that he might

prove useful. The moment he lost sight of land poor Poreo could not

restrain his tears. The officers comforted him by promising to be like

fathers to him.

Cook directed his course to Huaheine Island, which was only

twenty-five leagues distant, and anchored there at three in the

morning. The natives brought quantities of large fowls, which were the

more acceptable as it had been impossible to obtain any at Tahiti.

Pigs, dogs, and fruit were in the market, and were exchanged for

hatchets, nails, and glass-ware.

This island, like Tahiti, showed traces of earlier volcanic eruptions,

and the summit of one of its hills resembled a crater.

The appearance of the country is similar to that of Tahiti, but is on

a smaller scale, for Huaheine is only seven or eight leagues in

circumference.

Cook went to see his old friend Orea. The king, dispensing with all

ceremony, threw himself on the captain's neck, and shed tears of joy;

then he presented him to his friends, to whom the captain gave

presents.

The king offered Cook all his most precious possessions, for he looked

upon this man as a father. Orea promised to supply the English with

all they needed and most loyally kept his word. However, on the

morning of the 6th the sailors who presided over the traffic were

insulted by a native covered with red, in war dress, and holding a

club, who threatened every one. Cook, landing at this moment, threw

himself on the native, struggled with him and finally possessed

himself of his weapon, which he broke.

The same day another incident occurred. Sparrman had imprudently

penetrated to the interior of the island to make botanical researches.

Some natives, taking advantage of the moment when he was examining a

plant, snatched a dagger, which was the only weapon he carried, from

his belt, gave him a blow on the head, and rushing upon him, tore some

of his clothes. Sparrman, however, managed to rise and run towards the

shore, but, hampered by the bushes and briars, he was captured by the

natives, who cut his hands to possess themselves of his shirt, the

sleeves of which were buttoned, until he tore the wristbands with his

teeth. Others of the natives, seeing him naked and half dead, gave him

their clothes, and conducted him to the market-place, where there was

a crowd assembled. When Sparrman appeared in this plight, they all

took flight, without waiting to be told. Cook at first thought they

intended to commit a theft. Undeceived by the appearance of the

naturalist, he recalled the other natives, assured them that he would

not revenge it upon the innocent, and carried his complaint straight

to Orea. The latter, miserable and furious at what had occurred,

loaded his people with vehement reproaches, and promised to do all in

his power to find out the robbers and the stolen things.

In spite of the prayers of the natives, the king embarked in the

captain's vessel, and entered upon a search for the culprits with him.

The latter had removed their clothes, and for a while it was

impossible to recognize them. Orea therefore accompanied Cook on board,

dined with him, and on his return to land was received by his people,

who had not expected his return, with lively expressions of joy.

"One of the most agreeable reflections suggested by this voyage," says

Forster, "is that instead of finding the inhabitants of this island

plunged in voluptuousness, as had been falsely affirmed by earlier

navigators, we remarked the most humane and delicate sentiments among

them. There are vicious characters in every society, but we could

count fifty more sinners in England or any other civilized country

than in these islands."

As the vessels were putting off, Orea came to announce that the

robbers were taken, and to invite Cook to land and assist in their

punishment. It was impossible. The king accompanied Cook half a league

on his way, and left him with friendly farewells.

This stay in port had been very productive. The two vessels brought

away more than three hundred pigs, and quantities of fowls and fruits.

Probably they would not have procured much more, even had their stay

been prolonged.

Captain Furneaux had agreed to take a young man named Omai on board.

His conduct and intelligence gave a favourable idea of the inhabitants

of the Society Islands. Upon his arrival in England this Tahitian was

presented to the king by Earl Sandwich, first lord of the Admiralty.

At the same time he found protectors and friends in Banks and Solander.

They arranged a friendly reception for him among the first families of

Great Britain. He lived two years in this country, and upon Cook's

third voyage he accompanied him, and returned to his native land.

The captain afterwards visited Ulietea, where the natives gave him the

most appreciative welcome. They inquired with interest about Tupia and

the English they had seen in the _Endeavour_. King Oreo hastened to

renew his acquaintance with the captain, and gave him all the

provisions his island produced. During their stay, Poreo, who had

embarked in the _Resolution_, landed with a young Tahitan girl, who

had enchanted him, and would not return on board. He was replaced by a

young man of seventeen or eighteen years of age, a native of Bolabola,

named OEdidi, who announced his wish to go to England. The grief

evinced by this native on leaving his native land spoke well for his

good heart.

The vessels, laden with more than four hundred pigs, and also with

fowls, and fruit, left the Society Islands on the 17th of September,

and steered for the west. Six days later, one of the Harvey Islands

was sighted, and on the 1st of October anchor was cast off Eoa, called

Middelbourg Island by Tasman and Cook.

The welcome by the natives was cordial. A chief named Tai-One came on

board, touched the captain's nose with a pinch of pepper, and sat down

without speaking. The alliance was concluded and ratified by the gift

of a few trifles.

Tai-One guided the English into the interior. The new comers were

surrounded by a dense crowd of natives, offering stuffs and mats in

exchange for nails as long as the walk lasted. The natives often even

carried their liberality so far as to decline any return for these

presents. Tai-One conducted his new friends to his dwelling, agreeably

situated in a beautiful valley, in the shade of some "_sadhecks_." He

served them with a liquor extracted from the juice of the "_eava_,"

the use of which is common to the Polynesian islanders. It was

prepared in the following manner:--Pieces of a root, a species of

pepper, were first chewed, and then placed in a large wooden vase,

over which water was poured. As soon as this liquor was drinkable, the

natives poured it out into cups made of green leaves, shaped into form,

and holding about half a pint. Cook was the only one who tasted it.

The method of preparing the liquor had quenched the thirst of his

companions, but the natives were not fastidious, and the vase was soon

emptied.

The English afterwards visited several plantations or gardens,

separated by intertwined hedges, which were connected by doors formed

of planks and hung upon hinges. The perfection of culture, and the

fully developed instinct of property, showed a degree of civilization

superior to that of Tahiti.

In spite of the reception he met with, Cook, who could procure neither

pigs nor fowls, left this island to reach that of Amsterdam, called

Tonga Tabou by the natives. Here he hoped to find the provisions he

needed. The vessels soon anchored in the roadstead of Van Dieman, in

eighteen fathoms of water, a cable's length from the breakers which

border the shore. The natives were friendly, and brought stuffs, mats,

implements, arms, ornaments, and soon afterwards pigs and fowls.

OEdidi bought some red feathers of them with much delight, declaring

they would have a high value at Tahiti. Cook landed with a native

named Attago, who had attached himself to him at once. During his

excursion, he remarked a temple similar to a "morai," and which was

called by the generic name of Faitoka. Raised upon an artificial butt,

sixteen or eighteen feet from the ground, the temple was in an oblong

form, and was reached by two stone staircases. Built like the homes of

the natives, with posts and joists, it was covered with palm leaves.

Two wooden images coarsely carved, two feet in length, occupied the

corners.

"As I did not wish to offend either them or their gods," says the

captain, "I dared not touch them, but I inquired of Attago if these

were 'Eatuas,' or gods. I do not know if he understood me, but he

instantly handled them, and turned them over as roughly as if he had

merely touched a bit of wood, which convinced me that they did not

represent a divine being."

A few thefts were perpetrated, but they did not interrupt cordiality,

and a quantity of provisions were procured. Before leaving, the

captain had an interview with a person who was treated with

extraordinary respect, to whom all the natives accorded the rank of

king. Cook says,--

"I found him seated, with a gravity of deportment so stupid and so

dull, that in spite of all they had told me, I took him for an idiot,

whom the people adored from superstitious motives. I saluted him, and

talked to him, but he made no reply, and paid no attention to me. I

was about to leave him, when a native made me understand that it was

without doubt the king. I offered him a shirt, a hatchet, a piece of

red stuff, a looking-glass, some nails, medals, and glass-ware. He

received them, or rather allowed them to be placed upon his person or

beside him, losing nothing of his gravity, and speaking no word, not

even moving his head to the right or left."

However, next day, this chief sent baskets of bananas and a roast pig,

saying that it was a present from the "ariki" of the island to the

"ariki" of the ship.

Cook called this archipelago the Friendly Islands. They had formerly

received various names from Schouten and Tasman, as, Cocoa-nut Islands,

Traitor Islands, Hope Islands, and Horn Islands.

Cook not having been able to obtain fresh water, was obliged to leave

Tonga sooner than he wished. He found time, however, to make a few

observations as to the productions of the country, and the manners of

the natives. We will mention the most striking.

Nature had showered its treasures with a liberal hand upon Tonga and

Eoa Islands. Cocoa-nuts, palm-trees, breadfruit-trees, yams, and

sugar-canes are most plentiful there. As for edible animals, pigs and

fowls alone were met with, but dogs if not existing there, are known

by name. The most delicate fish abounds on the coast. Of much the same

form as Europeans, and equally white, the inhabitants of these islands

are well-proportioned and of pleasant features. Their hair is

originally black, but they are in the habit of tinting it with powder,

so that white, red, and blue hair abounds, which produces a singular

effect. Tattooing is a universal practice. Their clothes are very

simple, consisting of one piece of stuff, rolled round the waist, and

falling to the knees. The women, who at Tonga, as everywhere else, are

more coquettish than men, make aprons of cocoa-nut fibres, which they

ornament with shells, and bits of coloured stuffs and feathers.

The natives have some singular customs, which the English had not

noticed before. Thus they put everything that is given them on their

heads, and conclude a bargain with this practice. When a friend or

relation dies, they slash their limbs, and even some of their fingers.

Their dwellings are not collected in villages, but are separate and

dispersed among the plantations. Built in the same style as those of

the Society Isles, they differ from them only in being raised higher

above the ground.

The _Adventure_ and _Resolution_ sailed on the 7th of October, and the

following day reconnoitred Pylstart Island, discovered by Tasman. On

the 21st, anchor was cast in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Cook landed a

certain number of animals, which he wished to acclimatize, and set

sail again to enter Queen Charlotte's Sound, but being caught in a

great gale, he was separated from the _Adventure_, and did not meet

her again until he reached England.

On the 5th of November the captain repaired the damages of his vessel,

and before undertaking a new voyage in the southern seas, he wished to

ascertain the extent and quality of his provisions. He reckoned that

four thousand five hundred pounds of biscuits had been entirely

spoiled, and that more than three thousand pounds were in scarcely

better condition. During his stay here he obtained a new and still

more convincing proof of the cannibalism of the natives of New Zealand.

An officer had bought the head of a young man, who had been killed and

eaten, and some natives seeing it, wished very much for a piece, Cook

gave it up to them, and the avidity with which they threw themselves

upon this revolting food, proved the pleasure that these cannibals

took in eating food which they have difficulty in procuring.

The _Resolution_ left New Zealand on the 26th of November, and entered

the glacial regions which she had already traversed; but the

circumstances attending her second voyage were distressing. The crew,

though in good health, were overcome by fatigue, and less capable of

resisting illness, the more so that they had no fresh food on board.

The _Resolution_ had lost her consort, and the world was convinced

that no Antarctic continent existed. It was, so to say, a "platonic"

voyage. It was necessary to prove beyond the possibility of doubt that

no new land of any importance was to be discovered in these latitudes.

The first ice was encountered on the 12th of December, and farther to

the south than in the preceding year. From this date, the usual

incidents of navigation in these latitudes were repeated day by day.

OEdidi was quite astonished by the "white rain," as he called the snow

which fell on his hand, but the sight of the first ice was a still

greater marvel to him; he called it "white earth."

"His mind had been struck by a phenomenon in the torrid zone," says

the narrative. "As long as the ships remained in these latitudes, we

had had scarcely any night, and he had seen that we could write at

midnight by the light of the sun. OEdidi could scarcely believe his

eyes, and he assured us that his fellow countrymen would put him down

as a liar, if he talked to them of petrified rain, and of perpetual

day."

The young Tahitan had time to become accustomed to this phenomenon,

for the ship advanced as far as 76 degrees south, amidst floating ice.

Then, convinced that if a continent existed the ice made access to it

impossible, Cook determined to proceed to the North.

General dissatisfaction prevailed; no one on board was free from

severe colds, or from an attack of scurvy. The captain himself was

seriously affected by bilious sickness, which kept him in bed. For

eight days his life was in danger, and his recovery was likely to be

equally painful and slow. The same route was followed until the 11th

of March, when with the rising of the sun the joyful cry of "Land!

land!" arose.

It was the Easter Island, of Roggewein's Davis' Land. Upon nearing it,

the navigators were struck with astonishment, as the Dutch had been,

by the enormous statues erected on the shore. Cook says that the

latitude of Easter Island answers very closely to that marked in

Roggewein's MS. journal, and its longitude is only one degree wrong.

The shore, composed of black broken rock of ferruginous appearance,

shows traces of violent subterranean eruption. A few scattered

plantations were perceived in the centre of the island.

Singular coincidence! The first word spoken by the natives as the

strangers approached the shore, was to ask in the Tahitan tongue for a

rope. This again suggested that the origin of both races was the same.

Like the Tahitans they were tattooed, and clothed in stuffs similar to

those of the Society Islands.

"The action of the sun on their heads," says the narrative, "has

forced them to find different means for protecting themselves. The

greater number of the men wear a circular head-covering about two

inches thick, twisted with grass from one side to the other, and

covered with a great quantity of those long, black feathers which

adorn the frigate bird. Others have enormous hats of brown gulls'

feathers, almost as large as the wigs of European lawyers, and many

have a simple wooden hoop, surrounded with white gulls' feathers,

which wave in the air. The women wear large and wide hats of neat

plaits, which come to a point in front, with a ridge along the top,

and two great lobes on either side.

"The country was a picture of desolation. It was surveyed by two

detachments, and was found to be covered with black and porous stones.

The entire vegetation which could thrive on this mass of lava

consisted of two or three kinds of rugose grass, which grew on the

rocks, scanty bushes, especially the paper-mulberry, the 'hibiscus,'

and the mimosa, and some plantains. Close to the landing-place is a

perpendicular wall, constructed of square stones, compactly and

durably joined in accordance with art rules, and fitting in a style of

durability. Further on, in the centre of a well-paved area, a monolith

is erected, representing a half-naked human figure, some twenty[1]

feet high, and more than five wide, very roughly hewn. The head is

badly designed, the eyes, nose, and mouth scarcely indicated, but the

ears are very long, as is the fashion in this country, and are better

finished than the rest."

[Footnote 1: In the earlier editions of the French translation of

Cook's Voyages (Paris, 1878, seven 4to vols.), the height of this

statue is given as two feet, evidently by a typographical error. We

now correct this mistake, which has been repeated in all subsequent

editions.]

These monuments, which are numerous, do not appear to have been

erected or hewn by the race the English found, or this race had

degenerated; for these natives paid no respect to the statues,

although they treated them with a certain veneration, and objected to

any one's walking on the pavement near them.

It was not only on the sea-shore that these enormous sentinels were

seen. Between the mountains, in the fissures of rocks, others existed,

some erect or fallen to earth through some convulsion, others still

imperfectly separated from the block from which they were being cut.

What sudden catastrophe stopped the works? What do these monoliths

represent? To what distant period do these testimonies of the industry

of a race long disappeared, or the recollection of whom has perished,

seem to point? This problem must remain for ever insoluble.

[Illustration: Monuments in Easter Island. (Fac-simile of early

engraving.)]

Traffic proceeded easily. It was only necessary to repress the

marvellous dexterity of the natives in emptying pockets. The few

possessions which had been obtained had been very useful, though the

want of drinkable water prevented Cook remaining long in Easter Island.

He directed his course to the archipelago of the Marquesas of Mendana,

which had not been visited since 1595. But his vessel had no sooner

been put to sea than he was again attacked by the bilious fever, from

which he had suffered so severely. The sufferers from scurvy relapsed,

and all who had undertaken long walks across Easter Island had their

faces burnt by the sun.

[Illustration: Natives of Easter Island. (Fac-simile of early

engraving.)]

On the 7th of April, 1774, Cook sighted the Marquesas group, after

seeking them in vain for five consecutive days in the different

positions assigned to them by geographers. Anchor was cast at Tao Wati,

the Santa Cristina of Mendana.

The _Resolution_ was soon surrounded by pirogues, the foremost of

which was full of stones, every man on board having a sling round his

hand. However, friendly relations were formed, followed by barter.

"These natives," says Forster, "are well made, with handsome faces,

yellowish or tanned complexions, and marks all over their bodies,

which gives them an almost black appearance. The valleys of our

harbour were filled with trees, and tallied in every particular with

the description given by the Spaniards. We saw fire across the forests

several times, very far from the shore, and concluded that the country

was well populated."

[Illustration: Natives of the Marquesas.]

The difficulty of procuring food decided Cook upon a hasty departure.

But he had time to collect some interesting facts about the people,

whom he considered the handsomest in Oceania. These natives appear to

surpass all others in the regularity of their features. The

resemblance in their speech, however, to that of the Tahitans, appears

to point to a common origin.

The Marquesas are five in number, Magdalena, San Pedro, Dominica,

Santa Cristina, and Hood Island, the latter so called after the

volunteer who first discovered it. Santa Cristina is divided by a

chain of mountains of considerable elevation, to which the hills that

rise from the sea lead. Deep, narrow, and fertile valleys, filled with

fruit-trees, and watered by streams of excellent water, intersect this

mountain isle. Port Madre de Dios, called by Cook Resolution Harbour,

is about the centre of the eastern coast of Santa Cristina. It

contains two sandy creeks, into which two streams flow.

II.

A fresh visit to Tahiti and the Friendly Islands--Exploration of New

Hebrides--Discovery of New Caledonia and Pine Island--Stay in Queen

Charlotte's Sound--South Georgia--Accident to the _Adventure_.

After leaving these islands, on the 12th of April, and sailing for

Tahiti, Cook fell in, five days later, with the Pomotou archipelago.

He landed on the Tioukea Island of Byron. The inhabitants, who had

cause to complain of earlier navigators, received the advances of the

English coldly. The latter could only obtain about two dozen

cocoa-nuts and five pigs, which appeared plentiful in this island. In

another settlement a more friendly reception was met with. The natives

embraced the new-comers, and rubbed their noses in the same fashion as

the New Zealanders. OEdidi bought several dogs, the long and white

hair of whose skins serves as an ornament for cuirasses in his native

land.

Forster relates:--

"The natives told us that they broke up scurvy grass, mixed it with

shell-fish, and threw it into the sea on the approach of a shoal of

fish. This bait intoxicated the fish for a time, and when they came to

the surface it was easy to take them. The captain afterwards saw

several other islands of this immense archipelago, which were similar

to those he had left, especially the Pernicious Islands, where

Roggewein had lost his sloop, the _African_, and to which Cook gave

the name of Palliser Islands."

He then steered for Tahiti, which the sailors, certain of the

good-will of the natives, regarded as a home. The _Resolution_ cast

anchor in Matavai Bay on the 22nd of April, and their reception was as

friendly as had been anticipated. A few days later, King O-Too and

several other chiefs visited the English, and brought them a present

of ten or a dozen large pigs and some fruit.

Cook's first idea was to remain in this spot only just long enough for

Mr. Wales, the astronomer, to take observations, but the abundance of

provisions induced him to prolong his stay.

On the morning of the 26th, the captain, who had been to Oparree with

some of his officers, to make a formal visit to the king, observed a

fleet of more than 300 pirogues, drawn up in order on the shore. They

were all completely equipped. At the same time a number of warriors

assembled on the beach.

The officers' suspicions were excited by this formidable armament,

collected in one night, but they were reassured by the welcome they

received.

This fleet consisted of no less than sixty large double pirogues,

decorated with flags and streamers, and 170 smaller ones, intended for

the transport of provisions, and the flotilla was manned with no fewer

than 7760 men, warriors or paddlers.

"The sight of this fleet," says Forster, "increased our ideas of the

power and wealth of this island. The entire crew was astonished. When

we reflect upon the implements possessed by this people, we can but

admire the patience and toil necessary to cut down these enormous

trees, separate and polish the branches, and then to carry the heavy

constructions to such perfection. These works are produced by them by

means of a stone hatchet and saw, a piece of coral, and the hide of

whales. The chiefs, and all who occupied a prominent fighting rank,

were dressed in military style--that is to say, in a quantity of

stuffs, turbans, helmets, and breastplates. The height of some of the

helmets was most embarrassing to the wearers. The entire equipment

appeared more appropriate for scenic effect than suitable for a

battlefield. But, in any case, it added to the grandeur of the display,

and the warriors did not fail to show themselves with a view to the

most striking effect.

"Upon reaching Matavai, Cook learned that this formidable armament was

destined for an attack upon Eimio, whose chief had revolted against

the Tahitan yoke, and become independent.

"During the following days the captain was visited by some of his old

friends. All showed a desire to possess red feathers, which were of

considerable value. One only attached more importance to a glass bead

or a nail. The Tahitans were so impressed that they offered in

exchange the strange mourning garments, which they had refused to sell

during Cook's first voyage.

"These garments are made of the rarest productions of the islands and

the surrounding sea, and are worked with care and great skill, and no

doubt are of great value to themselves. We bought no less than ten,

which we brought to England."

OEdidi, who had taken good care to procure some feathers for himself,

could indulge in any caprice he liked. The natives looked upon him as

a prodigy, and listened eagerly to his tales. The principal personages

of the island, and even the king sought his society. He married a

daughter of the chief of Matavai, and brought his wife on board. Every

one was delighted to make him a present. Finally he decided to remain

at Tahiti, where he had found his sister married to a powerful chief.

In spite of the thefts, which more than once caused unpleasantness,

the English procured more provisions on their stay in this port than

ever before. The aged Oberea, who was like a queen in the island

during the stay made by the _Dauphin_ in 1767, herself brought pigs

and fruits, in the secret hope of obtaining red feathers, which had so

great a success. Presents were liberally given, and the Indians were

amused with fireworks and military manoeuvres.

Just before he left, the captain witnessed a curious naval review.

O-Too ordered a sham fight, but it lasted so short a time that it was

impossible to observe the movements. The fleet was to commence

hostilities five days after Cook's departure, and he would much have

liked to have waited for it; but, fearing the natives might suspect

him of an attempt to overcome both conquered and victors, he

determined to leave.

The _Resolution_ had scarcely left the bay, when one of the gunners,

seduced by the delights of Tahiti, and possibly by the promises of

King O-Too, who, no doubt, thought a European might be of use to him,

threw himself into the sea, but he was soon retaken by a boat launched

by Cook in his pursuit.

Cook very much regretted the fact that discipline obliged him to act

in this way. The man had no relations or friends in England, and, had

he requested permission to remain in Tahiti, it would not have been

refused.

On the 15th, the _Resolution_ anchored in O Wharre harbour, in

Huaheine Island. The old chief Orea was one of the first to

congratulate the English upon their return, and to bring them presents.

The captain presented him with red feathers, but the old chief

appeared to prefer iron, hatchets, and nails. He seemed more indolent

than upon the previous visit. His head was weaker, no doubt owing to

his immoderate love for an intoxicating drink extracted from pepper by

the natives. His authority was evidently despised, and Cook sent in

pursuit of a band of robbers, who had not refrained from pillaging the

old king himself, and who had taken refuge in the centre of the island.

Orea showed himself grateful for the consideration the English had

always shown him. He was the last to leave the vessel before she

sailed, on the 24th of April, and when Cook said that they should

never meet again, he shed tears and replied,--

"Send your children here, we will treat them well."

On another occasion, Orea asked the captain where he should be buried.

"At Stepney," said Cook. Orea begged him to repeat the word until he

could pronounce it. Then a hundred voices cried at once, "Stepney

morai no Toote," "Stepney the grave of Cook." In giving this reply the

great navigator had no prevision of his fate, or of the difficulty his

fellow-countrymen would have in finding his remains.

OEdidi, who at the last moment had accompanied the English to Huaheine,

had not met with so cordial a welcome as at Tahiti. His riches had

strangely diminished and his credit suffered in consequence. The

narrative says,--

"He soon proved the truth of the proverb, that a man is never a

prophet in his own country. He left us with regrets, which proved his

esteem for us, and when the moment of separation arrived, he ran from

cabin to cabin embracing every one. It is impossible to describe the

mental anguish of the young man when he left. He gazed at the vessel,

burst into tears, and crouched in despair in the bottom of his pirogue.

We saw him again, stretching out his arms to us, as we left the

reefs."

Cook reconnoitred Hove Island (so called by Wallis) on the 6th of June.

It is named Mohipa by the natives. A few days later he found several

uninhabited islets, surrounded by a chain of breakers, to which he

gave the name of Palmerston, in honour of one of the Lords of the

Admiralty.

Upon the 20th a steep and rocky island was discovered, crowned with

large woods, and bushes; the beach was narrow and sandy, and several

natives of very dark complexion were seen upon it.

They made menacing demonstrations, and were armed with lances and

clubs. As soon as the English landed they retired. Champions, however,

advanced, and endeavoured to provoke the strangers, assailing them

with a storm of arrows and stones. Sparrman was wounded in the arm,

and Cook just escaped being struck by a javelin. A general volley soon

dispersed these inhospitable islanders, and the uncivil reception

which was thus accorded well deserved the name bestowed upon their

land of Savage Island.

Four days later Cook reached the Tonga archipelago once more. He

stopped this time at Nomouka, called Rotterdam by Tasman.

He had scarcely cast anchor before the ship was surrounded by a crowd

of pirogues, filled with bananas and every kind of fruit, which were

exchanged for nails and old pieces of stuff. This friendly reception

encouraged the naturalists to land and penetrate to the interior, in

search of new plants and unknown productions. Upon their return they

enlarged upon the beauty of this picturesque and romantic country, and

upon the affability and cordiality of the natives.

In spite of it, however, various thefts continued to take place, until

a more important larceny than usual obliged the captain to resort to

severity.

A native, who opposed the seizure of two pirogues by the English, as

hostages until the stolen arms were restored, was wounded severely by

a gunshot. During this second visit Cook bestowed the name of Friendly

Islands upon this group, no doubt with a sarcastic meaning. Now-a-days

they are better known by the native name of Tonga.

The indefatigable navigator continued his route in a westward

direction, passed in succession Lepreux, Aurora, Whitsunday and

Mallicolo Islands, to which archipelago Bougainville had given the

name of the Grandes Cyclades.

Cook gave his usual order, to enter into friendly and commercial

relations with the inhabitants.

The first day passed quietly, and the natives celebrated the visit of

the English by games and dancing, but on the morrow an incident

occurred which led to a general collision.

A native, who was refused access to the ship, prepared to launch an

arrow at one of the sailors. His fellow-countrymen at first prevented

him. At the same moment Cook appeared on deck, his gun in his hand.

His first step was to shout to the native, who again aimed at the

sailor. Without replying, the native was about to let his arrow fly at

him, when a shot anticipated and wounded him. This was the signal for

a general discharge of arrows, which struck on the vessel and did but

little damage. Cook then ordered a gun to be fired over the natives'

heads with a view to dispersing them. A few hours later the natives

again surrounded the ship, and returned to their barter as if nothing

had happened.

Cook took advantage of these friendly indications to land an armed

detachment for wood and water. Four or five natives were collected on

the beach. A chief, leaving the group, advanced to the captain,

holding in his hand, as Cook also did, a green bough. The two branches

were exchanged, and peace thus concluded, a few slight presents helped

to cement it. Cook then obtained permission to take wood, but not to

go far from the shore, and the naturalists, who were anxious to

prosecute their investigations in the interior, were brought back to

the beach, in spite of their protestations.

Iron implements had no value for these people. This made it extremely

difficult to obtain provisions. Only a few agreed to exchange arms for

stuffs, and exhibited an honesty in their transactions to which the

English were unaccustomed.

The exchanges continued after the _Resolution_ had set sail, and the

natives hurried in their pirogues to deliver the articles for which

they had received the price. One of them, after vigorous efforts,

succeeded in gaining the vessels, carrying his weapons to a sailor who

had paid for them and forgotten it, it was so long ago. The native

refused the recompense the sailor would have given, making him

understand that he had been paid already. Cook gave the name of Port

Sandwich to this harbour of refuge, which he left on the morning of

the 23rd of July.

He was most favourably impressed by the moral qualities of the natives

of Mallicolo, but by no means so in regard to their physical powers.

Small and badly proportioned, bronze in colour, with flat faces, they

were hideous. Had Darwinian theories been in vogue in those days, no

doubt Cook would have recognized in them that missing link between man

and monkey, which is the despair of Darwin's followers.

Their coarse, crinkly black hair was short, and their bushy beards did

not add to their beauty. But the one thing which made them most

grotesque was their habit of tying a cord tightly across the stomach,

which made them appear like great emmets. Tortoise-shell ear-rings,

bracelets made of hogs'-teeth, large tortoise-shell rings, and a white

flat stone which they passed through the cartilage of the nose,

constituted their ornaments. Their weapons were bows and arrows,

spears and clubs. The points of their arrows, which were occasionally

two or three in number, were coated with a substance which the English

thought was poisonous, from observing the care with which the natives

drew them out of a kind of quiver.

The _Resolution_ had only just left Port Sandwich when all the crew

were seized with colic, vomiting, and violent pains in the head and

back. Two large fish had been caught and eaten by them, possibly

whilst they were under the influence of the narcotic mentioned above.

In every case, ten days elapsed before entire recovery. A parrot and

dog which had also eaten of the fish died next day. Quiros' companions

had suffered in the same way, and since Cook's voyage similar symptoms

of poisoning have been noticed in these latitudes.

After leaving Mallicolo, Cook steered for Ambrym Island, which

appeared to contain a volcano, and shortly afterwards discovered a

group of small islands, which he named Shepherd Islands, in honour of

the Cambridge Professor of Astronomy.

He then visited the Islands of Two Hills, Montagu and Hinchinbrook

Islands, and the largest of all, Sandwich Island, which must not be

mistaken for the group of the same name. All the islands, lying among

and protected by breakers, were covered with rich vegetation and were

largely populated.

[Illustration: Typical natives of the Sandwich Islands. (Fac-simile of

early engraving.)]

Two slight accidents interrupted the calm on board. A fire broke out,

which was soon extinguished, and one of the sailors falling overboard,

was at once rescued.

Koro Mango was discovered on the 3rd of August. Next day Cook reached

its shore, hoping to find a watering-place, and facility for landing.

The greater part of the sufferers from the poisonous fish had not yet

recovered their health, and they looked forward to its speedy

re-establishment on shore. But the reception accorded to them by the

natives, who were armed with clubs, lances, and arrows, seemed wanting

in sincerity.

Cook was on his guard. Finding that they could not lure the English

into landing, the natives endeavoured to force them. A chief and

several men tried to snatch the oars from the sailors. Cook wished to

fire his musket, but the priming would not go off. The English were

immediately overwhelmed with stones and arrows. The captain at once

ordered a general volley; fortunately half of the shots missed, or the

slaughter would have been terrific.

Forster says, "These natives appear to be of different race to those

living in Mallicolo. They speak a different language. They are of

medium height, but well-shaped, and their features are not

disagreeable. They were bronze in complexion, and they paint their

faces black or red; their hair is somewhat woolly and curly. The few

women I saw appeared very ugly. I have seen no pirogues on any part of

the coast. They live in houses covered with palm-leaves, and their

plantations are in straight lines and are surrounded by a hedge of

reeds."

It was useless to make a second attempt to land. Cook having bestowed

the name of Cape Traitor upon the scene of the collision, reached an

island, which he had seen the previous evening, and which the natives

called Tanna.

"The highest hill of the same range is of conical shape," says Forster,

"with a crater in the centre. It is reddish brown, and composed of a

mass of burnt stones, perfectly sterile. From time to time it emitted

a thick column of smoke like a great tree, increasing in width as it

ascended."

The _Resolution_ was at once surrounded by a score of pirogues, the

largest of which contained twenty-five men. The latter sought to

appropriate everything within their reach, buoys, flags, the hinges of

the rudder, which they tried to knock off. They only returned to the

shore after a four-pounder had been fired over their heads.

The vessel made for the shore, but all the trifles that were

distributed could not induce the natives to relinquish their attitude

of defiance and bravado. It was clear that the smallest

misunderstanding would lead to bloodshed.

Cook imagined these people to be cannibals, although pigs, fowls,

roots, and fruits abounded.

During the stay prudence prevented any one leaving the shore. Forster,

however, ventured a little way and discovered a spring of water, so

hot that he could not hold his finger in it longer than a second. In

spite of all their wishes, the English found it impossible to reach

the central volcano, which emitted torrents of fire and smoke as high

as the clouds, and projected enormously large stones into the air. The

number of extinct volcanoes in every direction was considerable, and

the soil was decidedly subject to volcanic eruptions. By degrees,

though without losing their reserve, the Tannians became more at home

with the strangers, and intercourse was less difficult.

"These people," says Cook, "showed themselves hospitable, civil, and

good-hearted, when we did not excite their jealousy. We cannot blame

their conduct greatly, for after all, from what point of view can they

have judged us? They could not possibly know our real intentions. We

entered their country, as they dared not oppose us; we endeavoured to

disembark as friends, but we landed and maintained our superiority by

force of arms. Under such circumstances what opinion could the natives

form of us? It doubtless appeared far more plausible that we came to

invade their country, than that we visited them as friends. Time only,

and intimate relations, could teach them our good intentions."

However that might be, the English were at a loss to guess why the

natives prevented their penetrating to the interior of the country.

Was it owing to a naturally shy nature? or possibly because they were

threatened with constant inroads from their neighbours. Their address

in the use of arms and their bearing supported this idea, but it was

impossible to know with any certainty.

As the natives did not value anything the English offered, they did

not bring any great quantity of the fruits and roots the latter longed

for. They would not consent to part with their pigs even for hatchets,

the utility of which they had proved.

The productions of the island included bread-fruits, cocoa-nuts, a

fruit like a peach, called "parre," yams, potatoes, wild pigs, nutmegs,

and many others of which Forster did not know the names.

On the 21st Cook left Tanna, discovered successively, Erromam and

Annatom Islands, and coasted Sandwich Island. He passed Mallicolo and

Quiros' Land of the Holy Spirit, where he easily recognized St. James

and St. Philip Bays, and left this archipelago after having named it

New Hebrides, by which appellation it is now known.

A new discovery was made on the 5th of September. No European foot had

ever trodden the soil he now sighted. It was the northern extremity of

New Caledonia. The first point recognized was called Cape Colnett,

after one of the volunteers who saw it first. The coast was bordered

by a chain of breakers, behind which two or three pirogues appeared to

be paddling, so as to reconnoitre the new-comers. But at sunrise they

brailed their sails and were seen no more.

Having cruised for two hours along the outer reefs, Cook perceived an

opening which he thought would enable him to draw near. He steered for

it and landed at Balade.

The country appeared sterile, and uniformly covered with a whitish

grass. Some trees with white trunks, like the willow in shape, were

seen here and there. They were "niaoulis." At the same time several

houses like bee-hives were perceived.

No sooner was anchor cast than fifteen or more pirogues surrounded the

vessel. The natives had sufficient confidence to approach and begin

traffic. Some of them even entered the ship, and inspected all the

various parts of it with extreme curiosity. They refused to touch the

dishes offered them, stewed peas, beef, and salt pork, but they

voluntarily tasted the yams. They were most surprised at the goats,

pigs, dogs, and cats, which were so strange to them that they had no

words to designate them. Nails, all iron implements, and red stuffs,

appeared precious to them. Tall, strong, and well-proportioned, with

curly hair and beard, and of dark chocolate colour, they spoke a

language which bore no resemblance to any which the English had

hitherto heard.

[Illustration: "The natives had sufficient confidence."]

When the captain landed he was received with joyful demonstrations,

and with the surprise natural to people who are brought face to face

with objects of which they have had no previous idea. Some of the

chiefs, enjoining silence, made short harangues, and Cook began the

usual distribution of ironmongery and hardware. His officers mixed

with the crowd to make observations.

Many of the natives appeared afflicted with a kind of leprosy, and

their arms and legs were greatly swollen. They were all but naked,

wearing merely a cord tightened to the figure, from which hung scraps

of stuff made from the fig-tree. A few wore enormous cylindrical hats,

open on two sides, like the hats of the Hungarian hussars. They hung

tortoiseshell earrings or rolls of the leaves of the sugar-cane in

their ears, which were pulled out and split.

The English soon perceived a little village above the mangroves which

bordered the shore. It was surrounded by sugar-cane plantations, yams,

and banana-trees, and watered by little canals, cleverly diverted from

the large river.

Cook soon discovered that he need expect nothing of this race but

permission to survey the country.

"These natives," he says, "taught us a few words of their language,

which bore no resemblance to that of any other tribe. They were mild

and peaceable in character, but extremely lazy. If we addressed them

they replied, but if we continued our way seldom joined us in our

excursions. If we passed their cabins without remark, they took no

notice of us. The women were slightly more curious, and hid themselves

in the bushes to look after us, but they would only approach in the

company of the men. They appeared neither vexed nor alarmed when we

shot birds. Indeed, if we were near their huts, the young people would

point them out to us, for the pleasure of seeing us fire. They

appeared to have very little to do at this time of year. Having tilled

the ground, and sown roots and bananas, they awaited their crops next

summer.

"Perhaps in this fact lay the explanation of their having no

provisions to offer in traffic, for in other respects we found them

fully alive to the hospitable instinct which more particularly

commends the islanders of the southern seas to navigators."

Cook's assertion of the indolence of the New Caledonians is perfectly

true. But his stay amongst them was too short to enable him to

appreciate their character thoroughly; and he certainly never

suspected that they indulged in the horrible practice of cannibalism.

He noticed no birds living in a wild state there excepting quails,

turtle-doves, pigeons, turkeys, ducks, teal, and a few smaller ones.

He could not ascertain the presence of any quadrupeds, and he entirely

failed in his endeavours to procure provisions.

At Balade the captain made several excursions into the interior, and

climbed the mountains to gain a general view over the country. From

the summit of a rock he clearly saw the two coasts and ascertained

that New Caledonia in this part was only ten leagues in width.

In its general features the country resembled various portions of New

Holland, which is in the same latitude. The productions of both appear

to be the same, and there is an absence of brushwood in the forests of

both.

Cook also observed the presence of minerals on the hills, and his

discovery has been verified in late years by the proved existence of

gold, iron, copper, coal, and nickel.

A few of the crew met with a similar adventure here to that which had

been almost fatal to some of them in the neighbourhood of Mallicolo.

Cook relates it thus:--"My secretary bought a fish which had been

harpooned by a native, and sent it to me on board. This fish was of an

entirely new species, and resembled that known as sun-fish, it was of

the order called 'tetrodon' by Linnaeus. Its head was hideous, wide

and long. Never suspecting that it might be poisonous, I ordered it to

be served at table the same evening. Fortunately so much time was

consumed in drawing and describing it that no time was left for the

cooking, and only the liver was served.

"The two Forsters and myself partook of it, and towards three in the

morning we experienced a sensation of weakness and want of power in

our limbs. I all but lost the sense of touch, and could no longer

distinguish light from heavy objects when I desired to move them. A

pot full of water and a feather appeared to me equally heavy. We first

resorted to emetics, and afterwards we succeeded in inducing

perspiration, which relieved us greatly. In the morning, a pig which

had eaten the entrails of the fish was found dead. When the natives

came on board, and saw the fish hanging up, they made us understand

that it was unwholesome. They showed their disgust of it, but neither

in selling it, or even after having been paid for it, had they given

the slightest hint of such aversion."

Cook next proceeded to the survey of the greater part of the eastern

coast. During this excursion he met with a native as white as a

European. His complexion was attributed to illness. This man was an

Albino, like those already met with in Tahiti and the Society Islands.

The captain was anxious to acclimatize pigs in New Caledonia, but he

had the greatest difficulty in inducing the natives to accept a hog

and a sow. He was forced to insist upon their usefulness, the facility

of breeding them, and to exaggerate their value before the natives

would consent to their being landed.

Cook describes the New Caledonians as tall, robust, active, polite,

and peaceable. He gives them the rare character of honesty. But his

successors in this country, more especially D'Entrecasteaux,

discovered to their detriment that they did not preserve this quality.

Some of them had the thick lips, flat nose, and general appearance of

the negro. Their naturally curly hair added to the resemblance.

"If I were to guess," says Cook, "at the origin of this people, I

should take them to be an intermediate race between the people of

Tanna and the Friendly Islands, or between those of Tanna and New

Zealand, or possibly between all three, for their language is in some

respects a sort of mixture of that of these different countries."

The frequency of war amongst them is indicated by the number of their

offensive weapons, clubs, spears, lances, slings, javelins, &c. The

stones used for their slings are smooth and oval. Their houses are

built on a circular plan, most of them being like bee-hives, with the

roof of considerable height, and terminating in a point. They always

have one or two fires alight, but as there is only one outlet for the

smoke, through the doorway, no European could live in them.

[Illustration: "With the roof of considerable height."]

They subsisted entirely upon fish and roots, such as yams, and the

bark of a tree, which was but little succulent. Bananas, sugar-canes,

and bread-fruit were rare, and cocoa-nuts did not flourish so well as

in the island previously visited by the English. The number of

inhabitants appeared considerable. But Cook justly remarked that his

arrival had brought about a general reunion of all the tribes, and

Lieutenant Pickersgill decided during his hydrographical excursions

that the country was sparsely populated.

The New Caledonians buried their dead. Many of the crew visited their

cemeteries, and especially the tomb of a chief, which was a kind of

mound, decorated with spears, javelins, arrows, and darts, which were

stuck around it.

Cook left the harbour of Balade, and continued to coast New Caledonia,

without finding fresh provisions. The aspect of the country was

universally sterile. But quite to the south of this large land a

smaller one was discovered, to which the name of Pine Island was given,

on account of the number of pine trees upon it.

They were a species of Prussian pine, very appropriate for the spars

needed for the _Resolution_. Cook accordingly sent a sloop and some

men to choose and cut the trees he needed. Some of them were twenty

inches in diameter, and seventy feet high, so that a mast could have

been formed of one had it been needed. The discovery of this island

had a certain value, as, with the exception of New Zealand, it was the

only one in the entire Pacific Ocean which produced wood fit for masts

and poles.

In steering southwards towards New Zealand, Cook sighted a small

uninhabited island on the 10th of October, upon which the botanists

reaped a plentiful harvest of unknown vegetables. It was Norfolk

Island, so named in honour of the Howard family. It was afterwards

colonized by a part of the mutineers of the _Bounty_.

The _Resolution_ anchored again in Queen Charlotte's Sound. The

gardens so anxiously planted by the English had been entirely

neglected by the New Zealanders, but in spite of this several plants

had grown marvellously.

The natives were very shy of appearing at first, and seemed to care

little for any intercourse with the strangers; but when they

recognized their old friends, they testified their delight most

extravagantly. When asked why they had been so reserved at first, they

evaded a reply, and there was no doubt that they were thinking of

murder and combats.

This aroused Cook's apprehensions for the fate of the _Adventure_, of

which he had heard nothing since his last stay in this port, but he

could obtain no reply to the questions he put. He was only to learn

what had occurred in his absence, when he reached the Cape of Good

Hope, and found letters from Captain Furneaux.

After once more landing some pigs, with which he wished to endow New

Zealand, the captain set sail for Cape Horn on the 10th of November.

After a vain cruise, he at last sighted the eastern shore of Tierra

del Fuego, near the entrance to the Straits of Magellan.

"The portion of America which now met our view," says Cook, "was

dreary enough. It seemed to be cut up into small islands, which though

by no means high, were very black, and almost entirely barren. In the

background, we saw high ground covered with snow, almost to the

water's edge. It is the wildest shore I have ever seen, and appears

entirely composed of mountains and rocks, without a vestige of

vegetation. The mountains overhang horrible precipices, the sharp

peaks of which arise to great height. Probably there is nothing in

nature which presents so wild an appearance. The interior mountains

are covered with snow, but those bordering the sea are not. We

imagined the former to belong to Tierra del Fuego, and the latter to

be ranged over the small islands in such a way as to present the

appearance of an uninterrupted coast."

The captain still thought it better to remain some time in this

desolate region, to procure fresh victuals for his crew. He found safe

anchorage in Christmas Sound, where as usual, he made a careful

hydrographical survey.

[Illustration: View of Christmas Sound.]

Several birds were shot, and Mr. Pickersgill brought three hundred

sea-gull's eggs and fourteen geese on board.

"I was thus enabled," says Cook, "to distribute them to the entire

crew, a fact which gave the greater satisfaction as it was near

Christmas. Without this timely supply, they must have contented

themselves with beef and salt pork."

Some of the natives, belonging to the nation called "Pecherais" by

Bougainville, came on board without any pressing. Cook's description

of these savages recalls that of the French explorer. They preferred

the oily portions of the flesh of the seals upon which they lived--a

taste which Cook attributed to the fact that the oil warmed their

blood, and enabled them to resist the intense cold.

"If," he adds, "the superiority of a civilized to a savage life could

ever be called in question, a single glance at one of these Indians

would be sufficient to settle the question. Until it is proved that a

man perpetually tortured by the rigour of a climate is happy, I shall

never give in to the eloquent declamations of those philosophers who

have never had the opportunity of observing human nature in all its

phases, or who have not felt what they have seen."

The _Resolution_ at once set sail and doubled Cape Horn. The Strait of

Lemaire was then crossed, and Staten Island reconnoitred. Here a good

anchorage was found. Quantities of whales abound in these latitudes.

It was now their pairing season, and seals and sea-lions, penguins and

garnets appeared in shoals.

"Dr. Sparman and myself," says Forster, "narrowly escaped being

attacked by one of these sea-monsters, upon a rock where several of

them were assembled, appearing to wait the upshot of the struggle. The

doctor had fired at a bird, and stooped to pick it up, when the

sea-lion growled, and showing his tusks, seemed disposed to attack my

companion. From where I was posted I shot the animal stark dead, and

at the report of my gun the herd, seeing their companion fall, fled

along the coast. Several of them threw themselves into the sea with

such haste, that they jumped ten or fifteen roods, straight upon the

pointed rocks. But I do not think they hurt themselves much, for their

skin is very hard and their fat is so elastic that it is easily

compressed."

After leaving Staten Island, Cook set sail on the 3rd of January, for

the south-east, to explore the only part of the ocean which had

hitherto escaped him. He soon reached Southern Georgia, seen in 1675

by Laroche, and again by M. Guyot Duclos in 1756, when in command of

the Spanish vessel the _Leon_. This discovery was made on the 14th of

January, 1775. The captain landed in three places and took possession

in the name of King George III. of England, bestowing his name upon

the newly-found country. Possession Bay is bordered by pointed rocks

of ice exactly similar to those which had been met with in the high

southern latitudes.

"The interior of the country," says the narrative, "is no less savage

and frightful. The summits of the rocks are lost in the clouds and the

valleys are covered with perpetual snow. Not a tree or even the

smallest shrub is to be seen."

After leaving Georgia, Cook penetrated further to the south-east,

amidst floating ice. The continual dangers of the voyage overcame the

crew. Southern Thule, Saunder's Island, and Chandeleur Islands, and

finally Sandwich Land were discovered. These sterile and deserted

archipelagoes have no value for the merchant or geographer. Once

certain of their existence, it was unnecessary to remain, for to do so

was to risk in exploring them the valuable records the _Resolution_

was taking to England.

Cook was convinced by the discovery of these isolated islands "that

near the pole there is a stretch of land, where the greater part of

the floating ice spread over this vast southern ocean is formed." This

ingenious theory has been confirmed in every particular by the

explorers of the 19th century.

After another fruitless search for Cape Circumcision, mentioned by

Bouvet, Cook decided to regain the Cape of Good Hope, and he arrived

there on the 22nd of March, 1775.

The _Adventure_ had put into this port, where Captain Furneaux had

left a letter relating all that had happened in New Zealand. Captain

Furneaux arrived in Queen Charlotte's Sound on the 13th of November,

1773, and took in wood and water. He then sent one of his boats under

Lieutenant Rowe to gather edible plants. As the lieutenant did not

return on board either in the evening or the next morning, Captain

Furneaux, feeling sure that an accident had happened, sent in search

of him. The following is a short account of what he learned.

After various useless searchings, the officer in command of the sloop

came upon some traces, as he landed upon the shore, near Grass Creek.

Portions of a boat and some shoes, one of which had belonged to an

officer of the watch, were found. A sailor, at the same time, noticed

a piece of fresh meat, which was taken to be the flesh of a dog, for

it was not known then that the people of the place were cannibals. "We

opened," says Furneaux, "about eight baskets which we found on the

beach, tightly corded. Some were full of roast flesh, and others of

roots used by the natives for bread. Continuing our search, we found

more shoes, and a hand, which we recognized as that of Thomas Hill,

because T. H. was tatooed upon it in the Tahitan fashion.

"At a short distance an officer perceived four pirogues and a number

of natives, assembled round a large fire. The English landed and fired

a regular volley, which put the Zealanders to flight, with the

exception of two, who left with the greatest _sang-froid_. One of them

was severely wounded, and the sailors advanced up the beach.

"A frightful scene was soon presented before our eyes. We saw the

heads, hearts, and lungs of many of the crew upon the sands, and at a

little distance dogs were devouring the entrails."

The officer had not a sufficient force with him, being backed by only

ten men, to meet this fearful massacre with fitting vengeance. The

weather, too, became bad, and the savages collected in large numbers.

It was necessary to regain the _Adventure_.

"I do not believe," says Captain Furneaux, "that this butchery was

premeditated on the part of the natives, for in the morning Mr. Rowe

said that he observed two vessels pass us, and remain all the forenoon

in sight of the ship. The bloodshed was most likely the result of a

quarrel which was instantly fought out, or possibly as our men took no

measures for their own safety, their want of caution tempted the

Indians."

The natives having heard one discharge, were encouraged by observing

that a gun was not an infallible instrument, that it sometimes missed

fire, and that once fired it was necessary to reload before firing

again.

In this fearful ambuscade the _Adventure_ lost ten of her best sailors.

Furneaux left New Zealand on the 23rd of December, 1773, doubled Cape

Horn, put into the Cape of Good Hope, and reached England on the 14th

of July, 1774.

After Cook had taken in provisions and repaired his vessel, he left

False Bay on the 27th of May, put into St. Helena, Ascension Island,

and Fernando de Noronha, at Fayal, one of the Azores, and finally at

Plymouth, on the 29th of July, 1775. During his voyage of three years

and eighteen days, he had only lost four men, that is to say, without

reckoning the ten sailors who were massacred at New Zealand.

No former expedition had reaped such a harvest of discoveries and

hydrographical, physical, and ethnological observations. The learned

and ingenious investigations pursued by Cook elucidated many of the

difficulties of earlier navigators. He made various important

discoveries, amongst others, that of New Caledonia and Easter Island.

The non-existence of an antarctic continent was definitely ascertained.

The great navigator received the fitting reward of his labours almost

immediately. He was nominated ship's captain nine days after his

landing, and was elected a member of the Royal Society of London on

the 29th of February, 1776.