The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VI. Being the Second of the Third VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VI. Being the Second of the Third Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
Though we had separated from Omai, we were still near enough to have
intelligence of his proceeding; and I had desired to hear from him.
Accordingly, about a fortnight after our arrival at Ulietea, he sent two
of his people in a canoe; who brought me the satisfactory intelligence,
that he remained undisturbed by the people of the island, and that every
thing went well with him, except that his goat had died in kidding. He
accompanied this intelligence with a request, that I would send him
another goat, and two axes. Being happy to have this additional
opportunity of serving him, the messengers were sent back to Huaheine,
on the 18th, with the axes, and two kids, male and female, which were
spared for him out of the Discovery.
The next day, I delivered to captain Clerke instructions how to proceed,
in case of being separated from me, after leaving these islands; and it
may not be improper to give them a place here.
_By Captain James Cook, Commander of his Majesty’s
Sloop the Resolution._
“Whereas the passage from the Society Islands to the northern coast of
America, is of considerable length, both in distance and in time, and as
a part of it must be performed in the very depth of winter, when gales
of wind and bad weather must be expected, and may, possibly, occasion a
separation, you are to take all imaginable care to prevent this. But if,
notwithstanding all our endeavours to keep company, you should be
separated from me, you are first to look for me where you last saw me.
Not seeing me in five days, you are to proceed (as directed by the
instructions of their lordships, a copy of which you have already
received) for the coast of New Albion; endeavouring to fall in with it
in the latitude of 45°.
“In that latitude, and at a convenient distance from the land, you are
to cruize for me ten days. Not seeing me in that time, you are to put
into the first convenient port, in or to the north of that latitude, to
recruit your wood and water, and to procure refreshments.
“During your stay in port, you are constantly to keep a good look-out
for me. It will be necessary, therefore, to make choice of a station,
situated as near the sea-coast as is possible, the better to enable you
to see me, when I shall appear in the offing.
“If I do not join you before the 1st of next April, you are to put to
sea, and proceed northward to the latitude 56°; in which latitude, and
at a convenient distance from the coast, never exceeding fifteen
leagues, you are to cruize for me till the 10th of May.
“Not seeing me in that time, you are to proceed northward, and endeavour
to find a passage into the Atlantic Ocean, through Hudson’s or Baffin’s
Bays, as directed by the above mentioned instructions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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