As we have now come to treat of the larger species of craft that plough the ocean, we shall proceed to visit those lands, of which, without the aid of ships, we should never have known the existence. We will, in fact, circumnavigate the world, and, in doing so, we shall put ourselves under one of the greatest circumnavigators the world ever knew, namely

CAPTAIN COOK.

scanty; but his was one of those vigorous spirits that seem to thrive best in adverse circumstances. James Cook educated himself, rose to be a captain in the royal navy, and distinguished himself signally in the service. But all his early doings sink into insignificance when compared with his labours as a discoverer and circumnavigator of the world. He commenced his career of discovery as a lieutenant.

It is not our intention to write a biography of Cook. Our object, in this chapter, will be to select a few interesting anecdotes from his adventures. "Cook's Voyages" are as familiar to us and as celebrated as the "Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," and we would deem it gross injustice to write a book on man's deeds upon the ocean without giving a prominent place to this prince of navigators, who fell, alas! while yet in the strength and vigour of his days, and while engaged in prosecuting his useful and interesting discoveries among the islands of the South Seas. He was murdered by savages in the year 1779.

OBJECT OF COOK'S FIRST VOYAGE.

In the introduction to the beautiful illustrated edition of Cook's Voyages, published by Tallis and Co., from which work our quotations are made-the object for which Cook was first sent forth to the unknown regions of the South Seas, is thus stated:

"In the latter part of the year 1767, while Wallis and Carteret [two eminent navigators] were still at sea, it was resolved by the Royal Society, that it would be proper to send persons, into some part of the South Sea, to observe the transit of the planet Venus over the sun's disc, which, according to astronomical calculation, would happen in the

year 1769; and that the islands called Marquesas de Mendoza, or those of Rotterdam or Amsterdam, were the fittest places then known for making such observations. (It was fixed, however, that the island of Otaheite or Tahiti, which had just been discovered by Wallis, should be the point of observation.)

"This resolution having been communicated to his Majesty [George III.], he directed that a vessel should be fitted out for the purpose. The command was intrusted to Lieutenant Cook, who had recently been employed in surveys in Newfoundland, and had been pointed out as an officer specially qualified for the service; and he was appointed by the Royal Society. With him were associated, Mr. Charles Green, assistant at the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks, long so well known as president of the Royal Society, and Dr. Solander, a Swede, and pupil of the celebrated Linnæus.

"The vessel employed on this occasion was the Endeavour, a barque of 370 tons, built for the coal trade. A vessel of this class was preferred by Cook to any other. The colliers are particularly distinguished as excellent sea-boats, and their build allows more room, and permits them to take the ground or be laid on shore with more safety than any other vessels of equal size. They also require fewer men for their navigation."

A representation of this species of vessel, the barque, will be found in our next engraving, accompanied with a detailed account of its peculiar rig.

The officers and crew, including the scientific gentlemen, consisted of eighty-four men, besides the commander. "The barque was victualled for eighteen months, and took on board ten carriage, and twelve swivel guns, with good

store of ammunition and other necessaries. The instructions given to the commander were, after making the necessary astronomical observations at Otaheite, to prosecute the design of making discoveries in the South Seas, returning home by way of Good Hope."

We can fancy with what exulting enthusiasm a man like Captain Cook would receive such an untrammelled commission to sail at will through the unknown regions of ocean and plough a track, if he could, entirely round the world. He was daring, enthusiastic, scientific, genial, and self-reliant, and the results of this and of his succeeding voyages were of the utmost importance to the interests of science and humanity; while the details are full of stirring incident and romantic adventure, as well as of minute and interesting accounts of new and curious species of birds, beasts, and fish. As Captain Cook wrote his own account of those voyages, we will let him speak for himself.

CURIOUS CREATURES OF THE SEA.

On the passage out, strange creatures were discovered in the sea, in regard to which Cook says :—

"Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander had an opportunity of observing many marine animals, of which no naturalist has hitherto taken notice, particularly a new species of the Oniscus; and an animal of an angular figure, about three inches long and one thick, with a hollow passing quite through it, and a brown spot on one end, which they conjectured might be its stomach. Four of these adhered together by their sides when they were taken, so that at first they were thought to be one animal, but upon being put into a glass of water they soon separated, and swam about very briskly. These animals are of a new genus, to

which Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander gave the name of Dagysa, from the likeness of one species of them to a gem.

"Several specimens of them were taken, adhering together sometimes to the length of a yard or more, and shining in the water with very beautiful colours.

"Another animal of a new genus they also discovered, which shone in the water with colours still more beautiful and vivid, and which indeed exceeded in variety and brightness anything that we had ever seen. The colouring and splendour of these animals were equal to those of an opal. One of them lived several hours in a glass of salt water, swimming about with great agility, and, at every motion, displaying a change of colours almost infinitely various.

"We caught also among the rigging of the ship, when we were at the distance of about ten leagues from Cape Finisterre, several birds which have not been described by Linnæus; they were supposed to have come from Spain, and our gentlemen called the species Motacilla velificans, as they said none but sailors would venture themselves on board a ship that was going round the world. One of them was so exhausted, that it died in Mr. Banks's hand almost as soon as it was brought to him."

Again, just after crossing the "line," as the equator is called by seamen, Cook refers to other discoveries thus:

"In the evening of the 29th (October) we observed that luminous appearance of the sea which has been so often mentioned by navigators, and to which such various causes have been assigned; some supposing it to be occasioned by fish, which agitated the water by darting at their prey, some by the putrefaction of fish and other marine animals, some by electricity, and others referring it to a great variety of different causes. It appeared to emit flashes of light exactly