488 TIE PROGRESS OF MARITIME DISCOVERY. 
took a lower studding-sail, and, having mixed a large quantity of 
oakum and wool together, stitched them down by handfuls as 
lightly as possible. The sail was then hauled under the ship’s 
bottom by means of ropes which kept it extended. When it 
came under the leak, the wool and oakum, with part of the sail, 
were forced inwards by the pressure of the water, which thus 
prevented its own ingress in such an effectual manner that one 
pump, instead of three, was now sufficient to keep it under. In 
this way they got the ship into a convenient port on the coast ot 
New Holland, where they repaired the injury. Here it was 
found that their preservation was not entirely owing to that in- 
genious expedient, for one of the holes in the ship’s bottom was 
almost entirely plugged by a piece of rock which had broken off 
and stuck in it; and this hole was so large, that, had it not been 
filled up in this truly extraordinary manner, the vessel must un- 
doubtedly have sunk. Some persons, leading a tranquil life 
unvexed by storm or wave, might perhaps be inclined to ascribe 
so miraculous an escape to chance, but the seaman, who has had 
death before his eyes, will always in such a case recognise the 
hand of an Almighty protector: and who can doubt that a thrill 
of intense gratitude flashed through the soul of Cook on the dis- 
covery of the cause to which he owed the preservation of his 
life ? 
With a vessel thus shattered, and a crew thus worn with 
fatigue, further discoveries were no more to be thought of, and 
Cook hastened to return by way of Batavia and the Cape to 
England, where he arrived on the 11th of June, 1771. 
The object of his second voyage (1772—1775) was to determine 
finally the question of the existence of a great southern continent, 
and to extend the geography of that part of the globe to its utmost 
limits. Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander had accompanied 
him on his first voyage, this tirme John Reinhold Forster and 
his son George were engaged by government to explore and 
collect the natural history of the countries through which they 
should pass. 
On the 13th of July, 1772, Cook sailed from Plymouth, and 
reached the Cape without having a single man sick. Well 
aware how much cleanliness and pure air contribute to health, 
he had neglected none of the means necessary to insure it. 
Every day the beds were aired, the linen of the sailors was 
