The Cannibal Islands | Page 3

coral
isles, to note the passage of a little star across the sun's face--an
apparently trifling, though in reality important, event in the history of
science.
So much for the object of Cook's first voyage. Let us now turn to the
details thereof.
The vessel chosen by him for his long and dangerous voyage to

unknown seas was a small one of only 370 tons burden. It was named
the Endeavour. The crew consisted of forty-one seamen, twelve
marines, and nine servants--these, with the officers and the scientific
men of the expedition, made up a body of eighty-five persons.
The scientific men above mentioned were, Mr Green, an astronomer;
Mr Banks, a naturalist, who afterwards became Sir Joseph Banks and a
celebrated man; Doctor Solander, who was also a naturalist; and two
draughtsmen, one of whom was skilled in drawing objects of natural
history, the other in taking views of scenery.
The Endeavour was victualled for a cruise of eighteen months. She was
a three-masted vessel of the barque rig, and carried twenty-two large
guns, besides a store of small arms,--for the region of the world to
which they were bound was inhabited by savages, against whom they
might find it necessary to defend themselves.
When all was ready, Captain Cook hoisted his flag, and spread his sails,
and, on the 26th of August 1768, the voyage began--England soon
dropped out of sight astern, and ere long the blue sky above and the
blue sea below were all that remained for the eyes of the navigators to
rest upon.
It is a wonderful thought, when we come to consider it, the idea of
going to sea! To sailors who are used to it, the thought, indeed, may be
very commonplace, and to lazy minds that are not much given to think
deeply upon any subject, the thought may not appear very wonderful;
but it is so, nevertheless, to us, men of the land, when we calmly sit
down and ponder the idea of making to ourselves a house of planks and
beams of wood, launching it upon the sea, loading it with food and
merchandise, setting up tall poles above its roof, spreading great sheets
thereon, and then rushing out upon the troubled waters of the great deep,
there, for days and nights, for weeks and months, and even years, to
brave the fury of the winds and waves, with nothing between us and
death except a wooden plank, some two or three inches thick!
It seems a bold thing for man to act in this fashion, even when he is
accustomed to it, and when he knows all about the sea which he sails

over; but when, like Cook, he knows very little about the far-off ocean
to which he is bound, his boldness seems and really is, much greater. It
is this very uncertainty, however, that charms the minds of enterprising
men, and gives interest to such voyages.
The Bible says, "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business
in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the
deep." Navigators in all ages have borne testimony to the truth of this.
The very first pages in Cook's journal mention some of these wonders.
He says that, while they were off the coast of Spain, Mr Banks and Dr
Solander, the naturalists, had an opportunity of observing some very
curious marine animals, some of which were like jelly, and so
colourless that it was difficult to see them in the water except at night,
when they became luminous, and glowed like pale liquid fire. One, that
was carefully examined, was about three inches long, and an inch thick,
with a hollow passing quite through it, and a brown spot at one end,
which was supposed to be its stomach. Four of these, when first taken
up out of the sea in a bucket, were found to be adhering together, and
were supposed to be one animal; but on being put into a glass of water
they separated and swam briskly about. Many of them resembled
precious stones, and shone in the water with bright and beautiful
colours. One little animal of this kind lived several hours in a glass of
salt water, swimming about with great agility, and at every motion
displaying a change of colours.
These Medusae, as they are called, have been spoken of by many
travellers, who tell us that in some parts of the sea they are so
numerous that the whole ocean is covered with them, and seems to be
composed of liquid fire, usually of a pale blue or green colour. The
appearance is described as being of great splendour. Even in the seas on
our own coasts this beautiful light is often seen. It