cook's first voyage march, 



taken for marble in another place, was a mineral sub- 

 stance ; and that, considering the correspondence of 

 latitude between this place and South America, it 

 was not improbable but that, by a proper examin- 

 ation, something very valuable might be found. 



At my return in the evening, I found all the wood 

 and water on board, and the ship ready for the sea ; 

 I resolved therefore to quit the country, and return 

 home by such a route as might be of most advantage 

 to the service ; and upon this subject took the opi- 

 nion of my officers. I had myself a strong desire to 

 return by Cape Horn, because that would have 

 enabled me finally to determine, whether there is or 

 is not a southern continent ; but against this it was 

 a sufficient objection that we must have kept in a 

 high southern latitude in the very depth of winter, 

 with a vessel which was not thought sufficient for the 

 undertaking ; and the same reason was urged against 

 our proceeding directly for the Cape of Good Hope, 

 with still more force, because no discovery of moment 

 could be hoped for in that route; it was therefore 

 resolved that we should return by the East Indies, 

 and that with this view we should, upon leaving the 

 coast, steer westward, till we should fall in with the 

 east coast of New Holland, and then follow the di- 

 rection of that coast to the northward, till we should 

 arrive at its northern extremity ; but if that should 

 be found impracticable, it was further resolved that 

 we should endeavour to fall in with the land, or 

 islands, said to have been discovered by Quiros. 



With this view, at break of day on Saturday the 

 31st of March, 1770, we got under sail, and put to 

 sea, with the advantage of a fresh gale at S. E. and 

 clear weather, taking our departure from the eastern 

 point, which we had seen at noon on the 23d, and to 

 which, on this occasion, I gave the name of Cape 

 Farewell. 



The bay out of which we had just sailed I called 

 Admiralty Bay, giving the name of Cape Stephens 



