xxxiv INTRODUCTION. 



your own ohjervation., or any information you may receive, there jh all apfear 

 to be a probability ofjuchpajjage, you are to proceed as above direHed: and, 

 having difcovered/uch pajfage, or failed in the attempt, make the beft of your 

 way back to England, byfuch route as you may think bejl for the improvement 

 of geography and navigation ; repairing to Spithead with both floops, where 

 they are to remain till further order. 



At whatever places you may touch in the courfe of your voyage, where accu- 

 rate objervations of the nature hereafter mentioned have not already been made, 

 you are, as far as your time will allow, very carefully to obferve the truefitu- 

 ation of Juch places, both in latitude and longitude ; the variation of the 

 needle -, bearings of head-lands ; height, dire5lion, and courfe of the tides and 

 currents; depths and foundings of the fea; fhoals, rocks, i^c; and alfo to 

 furvey, make charts, and take views of fuch bays, harbours, and dijfferent 

 farts of the coafl, and to make Juch notations thereon, as may be ufeful either 

 to navigation or commerce. You are alfo carefully to obferve the nature of the 

 foil, and the produce thereof ; the animals and fowls that inhabit or frequent 

 it ; the fifhes that are to be found in the rivers or upon the coafl, and in what 

 plenty ; and, in cafe there are any peculiar to Juch places, to defcribe them as 

 minutely, and to make as accurate drawings of them, as you can: and, if you 

 find any metals, minerals, or valuable flones, or any extraneous fojfils, you 

 are to bring heme Jpecimens oj each ; as aljo of the feeds of fuch trees, fhrubs, 

 plants, fruits, and grains, peculiar to thoje places, as you may be able to col- 

 le£f, and to tranjmit them to our Secretary, that proper examination and expe- 

 riments may be made oJ them. Tou are likewije to objerve the genius, temper, 

 dijpojiticn, and nmnber of the natives and inhabit atits, where you find any ; 

 and to endeavour, by all proper means, to cultivate a friendfhip with them ; 

 making them prefents of Juch trinkets as you may have on board, and they may 

 like bejl ; inviting them to traffic ; and /hewing them every kind of civility and 

 regard; but taking care, neverthelefs, not to Juffer yourjelf to be furprized by_ 

 them, but to be always on your guard againfl any accidents. 



You are alfo, with the conjent oJ the natives, to take pojfeffion, in the name 

 (if the King of Great Britain, of convenient Jituations in Juch countries as you 

 may dijcover, that have not already been dijcovered or vijited by any other 

 European power ; and to diftribute among the inhabitants Juch things as will 

 remain as traces and tefiimonies of your having been there; but if you find the 

 '■•' countries Jo dijcovered are uninhabited, you are to take p off ejfion of them for his 



Majefty, by Jetting up proper marks and injcriptions ^ as firft dijcoverers and 

 poffeffors. 



But 



