I N T R a I> U C T I O N. i'xsvii 



ments than are pofTefTed by the prefent natives of New Zea- 

 land ; certainly lefs civilized than thofe of Tongataboo or 

 Otaheite. Our having opened an intercourfe v^^ith them, is 

 the firft flep toward their improvement. Who knows, but 

 that our late voyages may be the means appointed by Pro- 

 vidence, of fpreading, in due time, the bleffings of civi- 

 lization, amongft the numerous tribes of the South Pacific 

 Ocean ; of abolifliing their horrid repafls and their horrid 

 rites ; and of laying the foundation for future and more 

 effecSlual plans, to prepare them for holding an honourable 

 ftation amongft the nations of the earth ? This, at leaft, is cer- 

 tain, that our having, as it were, brought them into exigence 

 by our extenfive refearches, will fuggeft to us frefh motives 

 of devout gratitude to the Supreme Being, for having blelTed 

 us with advantages hitherto withheld from fo great a pro- 

 portion of the human race ; and will operate powerfully to 

 incite us to perfevere in every feafible attempt, to be his 

 inftruments in refcuing millions of fellow-creatures from 

 their prefent (late of humiliation. 



The feveral topics, which occurred, as fuitable to this ge- 

 neral Introdudrion, being now difcufled, nothing remains 

 but to ftate a few particulars, about which the reader of 

 thefe volumes has a right to expedl fome information. 



Captain Cook, knowing, before he failed upon this laft 

 expedition, that it was expecfted from him to relate, as well 

 as to execute, its operations, had taken care to prepare fuch 

 a journal as might be made ufe of for publication. This 

 journal, which exifts in his own hand-writing, has been 

 faithfully adhered to. It is not a bare extraift from his log- 

 books, but contains many remarks which, it appears,, had 

 not been inferted by him in the nautical regifter ; and it is 



■ 7 alfo 



