Celebrated Travels and Travellers

tou Archipelago-Arrival at Tahiti-Manners and customs of the inhabitants-Discovery of other islands in the Society group-Arrival at New Z

acquire significance as indications of a vocation unknown even to its subject, and throw a light upon the character under consideration. For

easant woman named Grace. When scarcely eight years of age little James assisted his father in the rough toil of the farm of

little pleasure in an employment which kept him behind a counter, and he spent every leisure moment in chatting with the sailors who visited the port. Gainin

nd master, Cook rapidly learned

e Thames. The navy was recruited in those days by means of pressgangs. At first Cook hid himself, but afterwards, urged no doubt by a pr

recommendation from the member for Scarborough, sent in accordance with the pressing solicitations of all the inhabitants of Ayton, for young Cook, who shortly afterwards received a warrant as boat

the enterprise. His hydrographical sketch was acknowledged to be so exact and complete that he received orders to examine the channels of the river below Quebec. This duty he performed so well that his chart of the St. Lawrence was published by the English Admiralty. After the capture of Que

for three consecutive years in hydrographical tasks, which obtained for him the not

oyal Society of London, upon an eclipse of the su

ceiving a due reward for so much, and such successful labour, and for his patient s

nnounced for 1769, was eagerly discussed by all the scientists of the day. The English Government, confident that t

discoveries in the southern seas. But he was so exacting in his demands, and so persevering in his request for a commission as ship's captai

gh Palliser, and to him therefore the command of the Endeavour was given

to be met with in a sailor. For, although the observation of the transit of Venus was the principal object of the voyage, it was by no means the only o

on, shipped, Captain Wallis arrived in England. He had accomplished his voyage round the world. He was consulted as to the best spot for the observation of the transit of Venus, and he sele

ertook the botanical part. Finally, Sir Joseph Banks joined the expedition, out of simple interest, anxious to employ his energy and fortune. After leaving Oxford, Sir Joseph Banks had visited the Newfoundland coast and Labrador, and had there acqu

at Funchal, in the island of Madeira, on the 13th of September, to obtain f

m know when it would thunder, and to find a spring of fresh water for them, which they sorely needed, in the inter

t of the expedition. However, he could not well refuse to supply the English with fresh provisions, of which they had absolutely none left. As, however, Cook was passing Fort Santa Cruz on leaving the bay, two shots were fired after him, whereupon he immediately cast anchor, and demanded the meaning of the insult. The viceroy replied that the comm

the details of his administration, the Por

4th of January, 1769. Kippis, in his Life of

venture befell Banks, Solander, Dr. Green, and Monkhouse, the surgeon of the vessel, and their attendants. They were proceeding towards a mountain in search of plants, and as they climbed it they were surprised by cold, so penetrating and sudden, that they were all in danger of perishing. Dr. Solander was seized with vertigo, two negro servants died on the spot,

d, and the day, when the cold surprised them, had be

acial latitude, unarmed, and unlearned in any industrial art which would enable them to construct the more necessary utensils, they passed a miserable life, and could only exist with difficulty. In spite of these facts, of all the article

l, three degrees north of Magellan. No doubt a much longer time would have been needed, if he had followed the winding course of the Strait of Magellan. His very exact astronomical observations

n Jame

e of early

n the Dangerous Archipelago, which he respectively named, Lagoon, Arch, Groups, Birds, and Chain Islands. The greater number were inhabited and were covered with vegetation, which to sailors who for three months had s

e success of his observations that no interruption or distraction should occur. His first care was to read out standing orders to his crew, which they were forbidden under heavy penalties to infringe. He first declared that he intended in every possible way to cultivate friendly relations with the natives, then he selected those who were to buy the ne

deavour. He then landed with Messrs. Banks, Solander, and Green, soon found a favourable spot, and in presence of the natives immediately traced out the extent o

officer in charge of the tents, and accompanied his associates into the i

sequences of which might have be

lf of his gun. A general discharge was immediately directed upon the inoffensive cr

that he required for the construction of his fort, and would not allow a tree to be felled without their sanction. Final

antecedents, and with the exception of some thieving by

ccordingly took steps for putting the instructions he had received into effect. With this v

, where Cook himself proposed to await the transit of the pl

avourable weather, but on the 3rd of June, the sun rose in all it

the morning, and only terminated at ten minutes after three in the afternoon, at which moment the heat was stifling. The thermometer registered 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook assures us, and w

black point or dark ligament, a little less dark than the body of the star

en, Dr. Solander, and myself, observed the entire transit of Venus with the greatest ease. Mr. Green's telescope and mine were of equal power, and that of Dr. Solander still stronger. We noted a luminous atmosphere

ight have had disastrous results for the expedition. The market was at once glutted with that one article of traffic, and as the natives testified an immoderate desire to possess it, there was every reason t

ly disturbed. The officers were free to make incursions into the interior of the island t

formed the subjects of native songs. Banks followed the river which flows into the sea at Matavai, some distance into the interior, and found traces of a long extinct volcano. He planted, and also distribut

timated at thirty nautical leagues. During this voyage they entered into amicable relations with the chief

ove the earth. There the dead body was laid, covered in stuffs, with its club and stone hatchet. Cocoa-nuts, wreathed together, were hung at the open end of the tent; half a cocoa-nut, filled with soft water, was placed outside, and a bag containing some bits of toasted bread, was attached to a post. This species of monument is called Toupapow. Whence cou

bread-fruits, cocoa-nuts, yams, and other vegetables. The flesh placed in a hole upon hot stones covered w

was named Tupia. Formerly first minister to Queen Oberea, he was afterwards one of the principal priests of Tahiti. He asked to be allowed to go to England. Many reasons combined to decide Cook upon permitting this. Thoroughly acquainted (as a necessary consequence of his high functions) with all the pa

English friends, and to their countryman Tupia. Some overcome with silent sorrow shed tears, others, on

nd other needful provisions could easily be obtained there. These commodities had become scarce in the latter part of the stay at Matavai. Cook, however, preferred visi

eatly surprised at all the vessel contained. Soon reassured by the welcome of the English, he became so familiar as to wish to exchange names with Cook. During the entire stay in port, he always called himself "Cookee,"

isles. He also profited by his stay to make hydrographical surveys of the shores, whilst a leak which had been found in the gun-room of

the island of Oteroah. The hostile demonstrations of the natives

Lat., 174° 29' E. Long., the sea, agitated by a west wind, became very rough. The Endeavour was obliged to put her head to the north, an

an island or a continent appeared, su

ived. Nearer approach showed it to be of great extent. Unanimous opinion decided that the famous continent, so long looked for,

most northerly of the two islands which

ere perceived, then pirogues, then the natives assembled on the strand. And lastly, a pallisade, high and regularly built, surrounded the summit of the hill. Opinions varied as to the nature of

er. On either side were white rocks; in the middle a brownish plain, rising by degrees, and joining by successive

ched the spot where the natives were assembled, the latter fled; this, however, did not prevent the

take possession of it. They would have succeeded with ease, had not the crew of the boat out at sea perceived them, and cried out to the lads to let

pursued s

ions made an effort to carry him away with them, but were obliged to abandon the attempt, as it retarded their flight. Hearing the firing, t

n the shore awaited them. They were armed with long lances, and an instrument made of green talc, and highly polished, a foot long, which perhaps weighed four or five pou

the use. They saw, with pleasure, that the people, whose language was only a dialect of that spoken by the Tahitans, perfectly understood them. After some parleying, about thirty of the natives crossed the river. The strangers gave them iron and glass wares, on which they set no

n flute

e of early

pirogues, which were trying to regain the shore, were perceived. Cook took measures to intercept them; one escaped by rapid paddling, the other was caught, and although Tupia assured the natives that t

uch to his honour. They are in strong contradistinction to the ordinary

iged me to take observations of their country, and I could only do so by penetrating into the interior, either by open force or by gaining the confidence and good will of the natives. I had tried unsuccessfully by means of presents and my anxiety to avoid new hostilities led me to attempt having some of them on board, as the sole method of persuading them that far from wishing to hurt them, we were dispose

ey were loaded with presents, adorned with bracelets and necklaces, but when they were told to land, they all declared, as the boats were directed to the mouth of the river, that

t he needed he had been able to procure but one thing-wood. Poverty Bay, in 38° 42' S. Lat., and 181° 36' W. Lo

land upon an island which resembled that of the same name in the English Channel. His relations with the natives were ever

and glassware were exchanged for fish; when the natives

Tahitan profited by the confusion, and jumping into the

ing himself, as the sea became more and more rough, to be losing time which might be better

ere no swell was perceptible. The water was excellent, and it was eas

ts, and in their walk they found many things worthy of note. Below the valley, surrounded by steep mountains, arose

d man, who insisted upon their taking part in the military

p exactly resembling European tops, and the natives mad

s no less than sixty-eight feet long, five wide, and three feet six inches high. It had in front a scul

pplied with wood and water, Cook set sail an

ransit of Mercury. With a view to impressing upon the natives that the English were not to be illused with impunity, a robber who had taken a piece of cloth was fired upon with grape shot, but although he received the discharge in the back, it had no

serve the transit of Mercury. Green only observed t

ow the navigators in their thor

beauty, however attractive in themselves, could not but pall upon the reader. It is better, therefore, to pass rapidly over the hy

om the east to the north-east, forms the northern extremity of New Zealand. On the

heir war-song, but seeing that this attracted little attention, they began throwing stones at the English, and paddled along the sh

y, and told them that the English had arms, and were in a posi

, and we will

e no wish to fight, and we will not accept your challenge, because there is no

uch simple and true eloquence, and it

was shaded with trees, of the same species as those on Poverty Island. One of them measured nineteen feet in circumference

ves were frequent, the latter w

lates as

and to carry off a quantity of potatoes. Captain Cook condemned them to a dozen stripes each. Two of them received them peaceably, but the third persisted that it was no crime for

hey were so assailed by threatening winds, that Cook only accomplished ten leagues in three weeks. Fortunately they kept at a

n shore, Cook arrived in sight of an imposing peak, which was covered wit

e arc of a circle. It was split up into numberless roadsteads, which Cook d

und a fine river and plenty of trees, for the

had ever seen a vessel like the Endeavour. But he found that even the traditions of T

it of eating their enemies. A few days later, they brought on board the Endeavour seven human heads, to which hair and flesh still adhered, but the brains as being delicate morsels, were already picked. The flesh was soft, and no doubt was preserved from decay by some

of these excursions Cook, having climbed a high hill, distinctly perceived the whole of the strait to which he

he final extent of the large island of which he had followed all the windings. He had now only to finish his discoveries i

erilous. Many were defended by a double ditch, the inner one having a parapet and double palisade. The second ditch was at least eighty feet in depth. On the inside of the palisade, at the height of twenty feet, was a raised platform forty fee

less by means of a long blockade the i

a single weapon of any importance, with the sole exception of the spear they throw with the hand. They do not understand the use of a bow to throw a dart, or of a sling to fling a stone, which is the more astonishing, as

, outside Cape Koamaroo. Sharply pointed rocks rose from the sea. The danger increased momentarily, one only hope of saving the ship remained. It was attempted and succeeded. A cable's length was the distance between the Endeavour and the rock when anchor was cast, in seven

the wind becoming favourable, she was speedily carried to the na

d Eaheinomauwe, was, however, as yet only partially kno

ch might remain in the minds of his officers. After two days' voyage, in which Cape Palliser was passed, he called them up on the quarter deck and asked if they were satisfied. As they replied in the affirmative, Cook gave up

ed uninhabited. It was necessary to ke

the morning the crew discovered what dangers they had escaped. They named these r

ka, New

eward Island. Great waves from the south-west burst over the vessel as it doubled this cape, which convinced Captain Cook that there was

p as it was wide. Several islands were contained in it, behind which a vessel would have excellent shelter; but Cook thought it prudent not to remain there, as he knew that the wind, which would enable him to leave the bay, blew only

the navigation of the east

ed of barren and jagged rocks, excepting in the parts where they are covered with snow, mostly in large masses. It is impossible to conceive a wilder prospect, or a more savage and frightful one than this country from the sea, because from every point of

, moreover, was too far from the shore, and the weather was too dark for it to be possible to distinguish minor deta

to fulfil the object of his voyage. To his keen regret, for he had greatly wished to decide whether or no the sou

ring the enterprise to a successful issue. He had no choice, therefore, but to take the route

of a mora

ign, it will be better to glance backward and to summarize the information upon the sit

he exception of Tasman, in 1642, no European captain had ever visited its shores. It was so far unknown, that it was not even decided whether it formed a part of the southern continent, as Tasman suppos

an attractive appearance, in its hills, mountains, and valleys covered with wood, and watered by bright

uld cost them but little care and work to cult

ad of a Ne

e of early

r reserved for food. But if the fauna was poor, the flora was rich. Among the veget

ose made with hemp, and to which they can be compared. From the same plant, prepared in another way, they draw long thin fibres, lustrous as silk and white as snow. Their best stuffs are manufactured from these fibres, and are of extraordinary strength. Their nets, of an enormous size, are composed of these leav

i-p

e of early

rticles of this plant, and after one or two washings, the tissues which are fabricated from it, are reduced to tow. Still it forms a considerable article of commerce. Mr. Alfred Kennedy, in his very curious work on New

ed like the men, they were recognizable only by their sweetness of voice and liveliness of expression. Although the natives of the same tribe were affectionate in their relations to each other, t

ealand

ctory." But besides the need of procuring meat, which led to the frequency of these wars, another cause for them, unkn

o, from the Sandwich Islands. There is reason for believing this to be correct, when one reflects th

y driven back the aboriginal population. In truth, the earliest colonists noticed two distinctly separate types in the New Zealanders. The one, and most i

en, are in perfect accord with the singular fact, recorded by Cook, that Tupi

to the wider knowledge of languages and anthropology, but they were scarcely suspected i

at this time produced only one quadruped, the dog, and that was an alien. Thus the New Zealanders had no means of subsistence, but vegetables and a few fowls unknown to the English. Fortunately the inhabitants wer

s, once convinced that the new comers avoided using those instruments which produced such terrific effec

ough not so clean as the natives of Tahiti, whose climate is much warmer, and although they bathed less often, they took a pride in their persons, and showed a certain coquetry. For ins

their tatoo designs demonstrated wonderful skill, and tas

es similar to those of their husbands. Their sole attempt at coquetry consisted in fastening the most extraordinary things to their ears, stuffs, feathers, fish-bones, bits of w

the key was thrown into the sea before her. After a certain time, either because the weight of this singular ornament worried her, or because she wished to replace it by another, she begged to have

ng to the knees, and of a second rolled round the waist, which reached to the ground. But the latter was not an invariable part of their

ious coloured fringes, and more rarely with dogskin cut into strips. But the ind

ith fringes of black feathers. The smaller ones generally had poles. Occasionally two pirogues were joined together. The fishing-boats were ornamented at the prow and the poop by the face of a gr

h time that we went to their settlements, men, women, and children surrounded us, excited by the same curiosity which caused us to look at them. We never saw