2IO 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



at finding only some insignificant 

 islands, and Cook's first voyage 

 showed that New Zealand was an 

 independent archipelago. 



In spite of the great shrinkage 

 of the supposed southern conti- 

 nent caused by the expeditions of 

 Cook and de Bougainville, there 

 was still left an unknown area 

 round the south pole large enough 

 to hold a big land mass. Various 

 new arguments were used to prove 

 that such land must exist. De 

 Quiros in the New Hebrides felt 

 earthquakes traveling from the 

 south; as it was believed that 

 earthquakes could only originate 

 on land, they were taken to prove 

 the existence of a southern land. 



Cook was accordingly sent on 

 his second voyage, with orders to 

 circumnavigate the south polar 

 area in as high a latitude as pos- 

 sible. He was to search first for 

 the land reported by Bouvet, and 

 find if it were an island or part 

 of a continent. If the latter he 

 was to "explore it as much as pos- 

 sible, to make such notations 

 thereon and observations as may 

 be useful to navigation or com- 

 merce or tend to the formation of 

 natural knowledge. He was also 

 directed to observe the genius, 

 temper and disposition of the in- 

 habitants, if any, and endeavor 

 by all proper means to cultivate 

 their friendship and alliance, 

 making presents and inviting 

 them to traffic." 



Cook's voyage was brilliantly 

 successful, and still ranks as the 

 greatest of Antarctic achieve- 



