The Life of Captain James Cook, the CircumnavigatorKitson, Arthur
History
The Life of Captain James Cook, the Circumnavigator
Kitson, Arthur
Cook, James, 1728-1779; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Geographers -- Great Britain -- Biography
As soon as the ship was sufficiently lightened she was warped a little
further up the river, and at the top of the tide her bows were hauled
well into the bank, so that when the tide fell they were able to examine
the leak. The damage was found to be very serious; the rock had cut
through four planks into the timbers, and three other planks had been
badly injured. The manner in which the ship had been injured was "hardy
credible, scarce a splinter was to be seen, but the whole was cut away as
if done with a blunt-edged tool." A piece of the rock was found wedged in
the hole, and had greatly assisted in arresting the influx of water. The
sheathing and false keel were very badly damaged, but it was believed
that she was not much injured aft, as she made but little water when once
the main wound was dry.
At what is believed to be the exact spot at which the Endeavour was
beached, a monument has been erected by the inhabitants of Cooktown, a
seaport now at the mouth of the river.
There being no danger from the natives the crew were allowed as much
liberty as possible, and a good supply of fish, a few pigeons and a small
quantity of vegetables, in the shape of yam tops, cabbage palm, and wild
plantains, had a very beneficial effect on their health. The longitude
was calculated from an observation of "the Emersion of Jupiter's First
Satelite," as 214 degrees 42 minutes 30 seconds West, which Wharton
remarks on as being an excellent observation, the true longitude being
214 degrees 45 minutes West.
INCENDIARISM BY BLACKS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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