entertainer reckoned very homely fare. On relating how long they had been absent from any European settlement, how long they had lived upon salt beef, and how oft they had regaled themselves with seals, albatrosses and penguins, the captain and the mates dropped their knives and forks, and in pure pity to the strangers, resigned all pretensions to their dinner. At parting captain Broadly presented them with a large fat pig, and several geese, on which the gentlemen of the ship dined the two following days. On the 22d of March, 1775, the Resolution came to an anchor in Table Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope, which they found was only the 21st, according to the reckoning of the people on shore, they having advanced a whole day by sailing round the world to the eastward. On the 27th of April, captain Cook sailed from the Cape, and in his way to England touched at St. Helena, the western islands of Ascension, Fernando Norenha and Fayal, and on the 29th of July made the land near Plymouth, having been absent from England three years and eighteen days, in which time it is computed that they ran over a greater space of sea than any ship ever did before; since, according to Mr. Forster, taking all the tacks together, they form more than thrice the circumference of the globe. Thus was completed a voyage which will immortalize the conducter of it, being not only the most extensive, but the most instructive one: in it he not only discovered, but surveyed vast tracts of new coasts; hereby he dispelled the illusion of Terra Australis Incognita, and fixed the bounds of the habitable earth, as well as those of the navigable ocean, in the southern hemisphere. But being the most able navigator which any age or country ever produced is not captain Cook's ultimate praise; his humane and judicious attention to every means which might possibly conduce to the healthiness of his crew, gives him an eminent place among the distinguished few who are true friends to mankind; and his endeavours were successful to a prodigy. With a company of 118 men, he performed a voyage of upwards of three years, throughout all climates, from 52 degrees north to 71 degrees south, with the loss of only one man by a distemper. Even in the most healthful climate, and the best condition of life, an instance of so small a number of deaths, among so many men, within such a space of time, can hardly be produced. From whence it plainly appears, that marine diseases are not caused by any malignity in the sea air; and a voyage round the world may be undertaken with less danger to health than a common tour in Europe. From the bills of mortality in Europe, it is computed that three men out of a hundred annually die; according to which, it might have been expected that at least ten men would have died on this voyage: it is not therefore to be supposed, that on another voyage, although the means of preserving health are provided as amply, and used as skilfully, that the crew would be equally preserved. The means by which this important end was obtained was obtained were no less simple than efficacious: the captain took on board a quantity of malt, of which was made sweet wort: to such of the crew as showed the least symptom of the scurvy, and also to such as were thought to be threatened with that disorder, this was given, from one, two or three pints a day each man, or in such proportion as Mr. Patten, the surgeon, found necessary, which sometimes amounted to three quarts. Captain Cook pronounces this to be one of the best antiscorbutic medicines yet discovered. Sour-krout was in a large quantity, it being both a wholesome vegetable food, and highly antiscorbutic, and does not spoil by keeping; a pound of this was served to each man, while at sea, twice a week, or oftener, as was thought necessary. An ounce of portable broth to each man was boiled in their peas three days in each week. Rob of lemon and orange was used; sugar in the room of oil, and wheat for a part of the store of oatmeal. Beside these salutary articles of diet, certain regulations were established on board the ship, which contributed very essentially to promote the healthiness of the crew. They were at three watches, instead of watch and watch; (the last is the general practice at sea) that is, he divided the whole crew into three companies, and by putting each company upon the watch by turns, four hours at a time, every man had eight hours free for four of duty; by which means they were not so much exposed to the weather, and they had generally dry clothes to shift themselves when they got wet. Proper methods were used to keep their persons, hammocks, bedding, clothes,&c. constantly clean and dry; equal care was taken to keep the same state between decks: once or twice a week she was aired with fires, and when this could not be done, she was smoaked with gun-powder mixed with vinegar and water. The captain also frequently caused a fire to be made in an iron pot, at the bottom of the well, which was of great use in purifying the air in the lower parts of the ship. The ship's coppers were kept constantly clean. The fat which boiled out of the beef and pork was never suffered to be given to the people, being thought to promote the scurvy. Fresh water was taken in wherever it could be procured, even though it was not wanted, as that immediately drawn from a spring was considered as more wholesome than what had been kept some time on board the ship; and of this necessary article there was always plenty during the voyage for every useful purpose. Captain Cook, soon after his return, presented to the Royal Society a paper, describing at large the means which he used to preserve the health of his seamen, for which invaluable information he was voted their annual honorary medal. On this occasion, Sir John Pringle, their president, delivered an oration, in which, after paying that officer the most elegant and deserved eulogiums, he concludes with, "Permit me, Gentlemen, to deliver this medal, with his unperishing name engraved upon it, into the hands of one who will be happy to receive that trust, and to know that this respectable body never more cordially or meritoriously bestowed that faithful symbol of their esteem and affection; for, if Rome decreed the civic crown to him who saved the life of a single citizen, what wreaths are due to that man, who having himself saved many, perpetuates, in your Transactions, the means by which Britain may now, on the most distant voyages, preserve numbers of her intrepid sons, her mariners, who, braving every danger, have so laboriously contributed to the fame, to the opulence, and to the maritime empire of their country." The great service rendered to science by this interesting and wonderful voyage, was obtained at a very small expence; the whole cost of fitting out the ships, and the pay of officers and men, did not |
