THE SECOND VOYAGE. 15 



prudent for him to attempt) in one of any other sort 

 or size. 



Upon the whole, I am firmly of opinion, that no 

 ships are so proper for discoveries in distant unknown 

 parts as those constructed as was the Endeavour, in 

 which I performed my former voyage. For no ships 

 of any other kind can contain stores and provisions 

 sufficient (in proportion to the necessary number of 

 men), considering the length of time it will be ne- 

 cessary they should last. And, even if another kind 

 of ships could stow a sufficiency, yet, on arriving at 

 the parts for discovery, they would still, from the 

 nature of their construction and size, be less Jit for 

 the purpose. 



Hence, it may be concluded, so little progress had 

 been hitherto made in discoveries in the southern 

 hemisphere. For all ships which attempted it be- 

 fore the Endeavour were unfit for it, although the 

 officers employed in them had done the utmost in 

 their power. 



It was upon these considerations that the Endea- 

 vour was chosen for that voyage. It was to these 

 properties in her that those on board owed their pre- 

 servation ; and hence we were enabled to prosecute 

 discoveries in those seas so much longer than any 

 other ship ever did or could do. And, although dis- 

 covery was not the first object of that voyage, I could 

 venture to traverse a far greater space of sea, till 

 then unnavigated, to discover greater tracks of coun- 

 try in high and low south latitudes, and to persevere 

 longer in exploring and surveying more correctly the 

 extensive coasts of those new-discovered countries, 

 than any former navigator, perhaps, had done during 

 one voyage. 



In short, these properties in the ships, with perse- 

 verance and resolution in their commanders, will 

 enable them to execute their orders ; to go beyond 

 former discoverers \ and continue to Britain the re- 

 putation of taking the lead of all nations in exploring 

 the globe. 



