Cook now sailed round the island, and Mr. Banks explored the interior, and planted, in different places, seeds of water-melons, lemons, and oranges, with a view of naturalizing these plants there for the use of his fellow-creatures. In this benevolent purpose he fully succeeded, for trees and plants, grown from these seeds, are now flourishing in the island.

Having spent about three months in this beau tiful and luxuriant island, Cook resumed his voyage, and sailed amongst, and took possession of, the neighbouring islands. He gave the name of the Society Islands to the whole group, from their being near to one another. He then stood southwards in search of unknown land.

The idea that there existed a great unknown southern continent, or a "Terra Australis Incognita," as it was termed in Latin, which was to serve as a counterpoise, or balance, to the extensive continents of the northern hemisphere, had been entertained by the educated for more than two hundred years. This continent Cook was now proceeding in search of. For some time not a trace of land was to be seen, but at last the "Endeavour" came in sight of a lofty chain of mountains, and the general opinion was that they had reached the Terra Australis Incognita. The land proved, however, to be the island of New Zealand. This island was discovered by Abel Jasmin Tasman, a Dutch navigator, in 1642, and he also imagined it to be part of the great Terra Australis

Incognita. Being attacked by the natives, he did little towards exploring it, and, with this exception, the whole country remained totally unknown till the voyage of the "Endeavour.”

Cook spent six months in sailing round New Zealand, and proved that it was not, as had been previously supposed, part of a continent, but that it consisted of two islands divided by a narrow strait, to which, in honour of him, the name of Cook's Straits has been given. The northernmost of these two islands was remarkably fertile and well wooded. Mr. Banks was struck with the novelty and variety of the plants. Out of the four hundred species which he collected, there were not many which had hitherto been described by botanists. It was his opinion that all European plants would flourish in the island. In the long and careful examination which Cook made of New Zealand, he made large additions to geographical knowledge, and gave names to the different bays and promontories which he passed. One small inlet he named Queen Charlotte's Sound, after the consort of George III, Here Cook and some of the party landed, and, ascending a height in the neighbourhood, planted a post, which had been conveyed thither for the purpose, hoisted upon it the Union flag, and took possession of this and the adjacent country for the use of his Majesty King George III. They concluded the ceremony by drinking a bottle of wine to the health of her Majesty the Queen.

The natives of New Zealand were of a warlike

and savage temper, and Cook discovered several proofs that they were cannibals. Like the inhabit

ants of Otaheite, they committed theft whenever they had an opportunity. One thing that Cook particularly noticed was their perfect health. There was an entire absence of all disease in the island, and to judge by the number of old men and women he saw, all of whom were brisk and lively, the people lived to a great age. This was doubtless owing to their perfect temperance, for at that time the New Zealanders knew of no drink but

the primitive one given for all creatures. "It is greatly to be wished," observes an author of the day, that "their happiness in this respect may never be destroyed by such a connection with European nations as shall introduce that fondness for spirituous liquors which has been so fatal to the Indians of North America." Unhappily this wish was not fulfilled.

When Cook had thoroughly explored New Zealand he resumed his voyage, and, sailing due west for nineteen days, arrived at the island of New Holland. Here he put into an inlet, which, from the number of plants that were collected there, he called Botany Bay. From thence he directed his course northwards along the east coast of New Holland, then quite unknown, of which he laid down a careful chart. The navigation of this coast was full of danger, and it was extremely difficult to avoid the shoals and sharp coral reefs with which it was beset, the latter of which often rose like a wall to the surface of the water. For 1300 miles, however, the brave little ship sailed on in safety, but at last, one night, she struck on a coral reef with such violence that she was in danger of being dashed to pieces. Every effort was made by the crew to get her off, and her guns, ballast, and all heavy articles were thrown overboard, to lighten her as much as possible, in the hope that, when the tide rose, she might float; but two tides passed before they succeeded in getting her afloat. When this was accomplished

the danger was, if possible, greater than before, for the water ran into her so fast, that though there were four pumps.constantly at work, it was as much as the men could do to keep her from sinking. In this emergency one of the midshipmen recommended an expedient for stopping the leak, which he had seen used on board a merchant ship, and which was called fothering the ship. It consisted of passing a sail well covered over with oakum, wool, and other loose materials, under the keel of the ship. This was tried as a last resource, and it answered so well that the leak was immediately very much diminished, and our navigators were able to proceed with tolerable security till they reached a safe harbour.

The "Endeavour" was then hauled on shore to be repaired, when it was discovered that, but for a most providential circumstance, she must have gone to the bottom the moment she got off the reef. "One of the holes," says Cook, "which was hig enough to have sunk us if we had had eight pumps instead of four, and had been able to keep them incessantly going, was, in a great measure, plugged up by the fragment of the rock, which, after having made the wound, was left sticking in it; so that the water, which at first gained upon our pumps, was what came in at the interstices between the stone and the edges of the hole that received it." Throughout this trying time, even when aground on the reef, in danger every moment of perishing in the deep, the crew behaved with