THE SECOND VOYAGE. 11 



Middleburg, now better known under the name of 

 the Friendly Islands. But while the Endeavour was 

 getting ready for the expedition, Captain Wallis re- 

 turned from his voyage round the world, in the 

 course of which he had discovered several islands in 

 the South Sea ; and amongst others, Otaheite. This 

 island was preferred to any of those before men- 

 tioned, on account of the conveniences it afforded ; 

 and because its place had been well ascertained, and 

 found to be extremely well suited to our purpose. 



I was therefore ordered to proceed directly to 

 Otaheite ; and, after the astronomical observations 

 should be completed, to prosecute the design of 

 making discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean, by 

 proceeding to the south as far as the latitude of 40 ; 

 then, if 1 found no land, to proceed to the west 

 between 40 and 35, till I fell in with New Zealand, 

 which I was to explore ; and thence to return to 

 England, by such route as I should think proper. 



In the prosecution of these instructions, I sailed 

 from Deptford the 30th of July, 1768 ; from Plymouth 

 the 26th of August ; touched at Madeira, Rio de 

 Janeiro, and Straits Le M aire ; and entered the 

 South Pacific Ocean by Cape Horn, in January the 

 following year. 



I endeavoured to make a direct course to Otaheite, 

 and in part succeeded ; but I made no discovery 

 till I got within the tropic, where I fell in with 

 Lagoon island ; Two Groups ; Bird island ; ~ 

 Chain island ; and on the 18th of April arrived 

 at Otaheite, where I remained three months, during 

 which time the observations on the transit were 

 made. 



I then left it ; discovered, and visited the Society 

 isles, and Oheteroa ; thence proceeded to the south 

 till I arrived in the latitude of 40 22', longitude 

 147 29' West ; and on the 6th of October fell in 

 with the east side of New Zealand. 



I continued exploring the coast of this country till 



