ture to bring her to; but on hailing her, and being told we were king's fhips, made a proper apology, and very politely took leave, wishing us a good voyage.

On the 29th, about nine at night, we anchored in Funchiale road, in the island of Madeira. After having faluted the garrifon with eleven guns, and they had returned the compliment, we went on fhore, accompanied by Mr. Sills, a gentleman from the Viceconful, to the house of Mr. Loughnans, a confiderable English merchant, who affifted us with every accommodation the ifland and house afforded, during our flay. Here the officers and private men furnished themselves with fuch stocks of wine as they could conveniently purchase.

On the ift of Auguft, having ftowed on board a fupply of water, wine, and other neceffaries, we fet fail, loft fight of Madeira, and food to the fouth ward, with a gentle gale at N. E. On the 4th, we faw the pleafant island of Palma, bearing S. S. W. diftant about three or four leagues. And on Wednesday the 5th, we paffed the ifle of Ferro, at the diftance of fourteen leagues.

Having departed from Madeira on the 1st of Auguft, on the 9th we croffed the Tropic of Cancer, and at nine in the morning came in fight of Bonavista, bearing S. W. by W. about ten leagues.

On the 10th we paffed the island of Mayo, on our ftarboard fide, and at two P. M. came to an anchor, 18 fathom water, in Port Praya, in the isle of St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verds. An officer was fent on fhore for leave to procure what refreshments we wanted, which was readily granted; and on his return we faluted the fort with eleven guns. Here both fhips were fupplied with plenty of good water. We also recruited our live ftock, fuch as hogs, goats, and poultry, fome of which continued alive during the remainder of the voyage.

On

On the 14th, both fhips having got on board a fupply of refreshments and provifions, we weighed anchor, put to fea, and continued our voyage to the Cape, of Good Hope. On the 16th, in the evening, a luminous fiery meteor made its appearance; it was of a bluish colour, an oblong fhape, and had a quick defcending motion. After a momentary duration, it disappeared in the horizon. Its courfe was N. N. W.

On the 19th, one of the carpenter's mates fell overboard, and was drowned. He was fitting on one of the fcuttles, from whence it was fuppofed he fell. All our endeavours to fave him were in vain, for he was not seen till the inftant he funk under the fhip's ftern. We felt his lofs very sensibly, he being a fober man, as well as a good workman; and was much regretted even by his fhipmates.

On the 20th, the rain defcended not in drops, but in ftreams, and, at the fame time, the wind was fqually and variable, fo that the people were obliged to keep deck, and of course had all wet jackets, an inconvenience very common, and often experienced by feamen. However, this disagreeable circumfiance was attended with good, as it gave us an opportunity of fpreading our awnings, and filling feven empty puncheons with fresh water.

On the 27th, one of Capt. Furneaux's petty officers died on board the Adventure; but on board the Refolution, we had not one man fick, although a deal of rain fell, which, in fuch hot climates, is a great promoter of ficknefs. Capt. Cook took every necellary precaution for the prefervation of our health, by airing and drying the fhip with fires made between decks, and by making the crew air their bedding, and wash their clothes, at every opportunity. Two men were punished on board the Adventure; one a private marine for quarreling with the quarter-mafter; the other a common failor for theft. Each of them receiving one

dozen,

dozen. This we mention to fhew what ftrict difcipline it was neceffary to preferve on board, in order to establish a regular and peaceable behaviour in fuch hazardous voyages, when men, unaccustomed to controul, are apt to prove mutinous.

On Tuesday, September the 8th, we croffed the line in longitude 8 deg. W. Some of the crew, who had never paffed the line before, were obliged to undergo the ufual ceremony of ducking, but fome bought themfelves off, by paying the required forfeit of brandy.. Those who fubmitted to an immerfion, found it very falutary, as it cannot well be done too often in warm weather, and a frequent change of linen and clothes is exceeding refreshing. On the 14th, a flying fish fell on our deck; we caught feveral dolphins; faw fome aquatic birds; and, at various intervals, obferved the fea covered with numberlefs animals. On Sunday the 27th, a fail was difcovered to W. ftanding after us; the appeared to be a fnow, and fhewed either Portuguese colours, or St. George's enfign. We did not chufe to wait till the approached nearer, or to speak to

her

On Monday the 12th, the weather being calm, we amused ourselves with fhooting fea-fowl. We were now accompanied by fheerwaters, pintadoes, &c. and by a small grey peterel. This laft is lefs than a pigeon, has a grey back, whitifh belly, and a black ftroke acros from the tip of the wing to that of the other. These are fouthern birds, and, we believe, never feen within the tropics, or north of the line. They vifited us in great flights; and about the fame time we saw feveral animals of the molufea kind, within our reach, together with a violet coloured fhell, of a remarkable thin texture, and therefore feems calculated to keep the open fea: and not to come near rocky places, it being easily broken. Saturday the 17th, we difcovered a fail to the N. W. which hoisted Dutch colours. She kept

tis company two days, but on the third we out failed her. From the 12th to this day, we had the wind between the N. and E. a gentle gale. On Wednesday the 21ft, our latitude was 35 deg. 20 min. S. and our longitude 8 deg. 4 min. 30 fec. E. From this time to the 23d the wind continued eafterly, when it veered to the N. and N. W. After fome hours calm, we faw a feal or, as fome thought, a fea lion. The wind now fixed at N. W. which carried us to our intended port. As we drew near to the land, the fea fowl, which had accompanied us hitherto, began to leave us, at least, they did not appear in fuch numbers; nor did we fee gannets, or the black bird, commonly called the Cape hen, till we were nearly within fight of the Cape. On Thursday the 29th, at two o'clock P. M. we made the land of the Cape of Good Hope; a particular defcription of which is given in his firft voyage. The Table Mountain, over the Cape town, bore E. S. E. diftant twelve or fourteen leagues: had it not been obfcured by clouds, it might, from its height, have been seen at a much greater diftance.

Friday the goth, we flood into Table Bay, with the Adventure in company, and anchored in five fathom water. We were now vifit by the mafter-attendant of the fort, fome other officers belonging to the company, and Mr. Brandt. This laft gentleman brought off to us many articles that were very acceptable; and the mafter attendant, as is cuftomary, took an account of the two fhips, enquiring particularly if the small-pox was on board, a diforder dreaded, above all others, by the inhabitants of the Cape; for which reafon, a furgeon always attends on thefe vifits.

This day Capt. Cook fent an officer to wait upon Baron Plettenburg, the governor, to inform him of our arrival, to which he returned a polite anfwer, and on the return of our officer, we faluted the fort with eleven

6

Z

guns,

guns, which compliment was acknowledged by the fame number.

Having visited the governor and fome of the principal inhabitants, we took up our abode at Mr. Brandt's, the ufual refidence of moft officers belonging to Englifh fhips. With respect to accomodation, this gentleman spares neither pains nor expence, in order to fa vour him with their company. We concerted meafures with Mr. Brandt for fupplying us with provifions, &c. all which he procured without delay, while our men on board were employed in over hauling the rigging, and the carpenters in caulking the fhips fides, &c. At the fame time Mr. Wales and Mr. Bayley made obfervations for regulating the watches, and other purpofes. The refult of thefe was, that Mr. Kendal's watch had answered beyond our expectations, by determining the longitude of this place to within one minute of time to what it was observed in 1761, by Meff. Mafon and Dickfon.

During our stay here, Mr. Fofter, who employed his time wholly in the pursuit of natural history and botany, met with one Mr. Spar man, a Swedish gentleman, who had ftudied under Linnæus. Mr. Fofter importuned ftrongly Capt. Cook to take him aboard: and Mr. Sparman being willing to embark, the captain confented; and he was engaged under Mr. Fofter who bore his expences on board, and allowed him a yearly ftipend befides.

On the 18th, we had got every thing on board; but it was the 22d before we could put to fea. In this interval the crews of both fhips were ferved every day with fresh beef, or mutton, new baked bread, and what quantity of greens they thought fufficient; and the two fhips in every respect, were put in as good condition as when they left England. At this time fome removes took place in the Adventure. The firft lieu

tenant