THE SECOND VOYAGE. 13 



way, I can say little about them, or about two other 

 .voyages which, I am told, have been made by the 

 Spaniards; one to Easter island in the year 17^9, 

 and the other to Otaheite in 1773. 



Before I begin my narrative of the expedition in- 

 trusted to my care, it will be necessary to add here 

 some account of its equipment, and of some other 

 matters, equally interesting, connected with my 

 subject. 



Soon after my return home in the Endeavour, it 

 was resolved to equip two ships, to complete the dis- 

 covery of the Southern Hemisphere. The nature of 

 this voyage required ships of a particular construc- 

 tion, and the Endeavour being gone to Falkland 

 Isles as a store-ship, the Navy-board was directed to 

 purchase two such ships as were most suitable for 

 this service. 



At this time' various opinions were espoused by 

 different people, touching the size and kind of vessels 

 most proper for such a voyage. Some were for having 

 large ships ; and proposed those of forty guns, or 

 East India Company's ships. Others preferred large 

 good sailing frigates, or three-decked ships, employed 

 in the Jamaica trade, fitted with round-houses. But 

 of all that was said and offered to the Admiralty's 

 consideration on this subject, as far as has come to 

 my knowledge, what, in my opinion, was most to the 

 purpose, was suggested by the Navy-board. 



As the kind of ships most proper to be employed 

 on discoveries is a very interesting consideration to 

 the adventurers in such undertakings, it may possibly 

 be of use to those who, in future, may be so em- 

 ployed, to give bere the purport of the sentiments 

 of the Navy-board theron, with whom, after the ex- 

 perience of two voyages of three years each, I per- 

 fectly agree. 



The success of such undertakings as making dis- 

 coveries in distant parts of the world will principally 

 depend on the preparations being well adapted to 



