18 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



Rio de Janeiro ; where they arrived on the 13th ol 

 November. 



Mr. Hicks, the first lieutenant, was sent before in the 

 pinnace to the city, to inform the governor that they put in 

 there for refreshments and a pilot. The pinnace returned 

 without the lieutenant, who was detained till the captain 

 came on shore. Soon after a ten-oared boat, filled with 

 soldiers, came up, and rowed round the ship, without any 

 conversation taking place. A second boat came up, with 

 several of the viceroy's officers ; they inquired whence the 

 Endeavour came ; what she had on board ; her number of 

 men, guns, and destination. These, and many other 

 questions, were answered without equivocation ; when they 

 apologised for detaining the lieutenant, and other steps they 

 had taken, which they justified on the plea of custom. 



Captain Cook went on shore on the 14th, and obtained 

 leave to purchase what he wanted, on condition of employ- 

 ing an inhabitant as a factor. The captain judging that the 

 viceroy imagined they were come to trade, endeavoured 

 to convince him of his mistake, by acquainting him that 

 they were bound to the southward, to observe the transit 

 of Venus ; a very interesting object to the advancement 

 of navigation, of which phenomenon, however, he appeared, 

 as might be supposed, to be totally ignorant. 



The viceroy having ordered, that only the captain, and 

 such sailors as were necessary to be upon duty, should be 

 suffered to land ; they, notwithstanding, attempted to 

 come on shore, but were prevented by the guard-boat. 

 Several of the crew, however, unknown to the sentinel, 

 stole out of the cabin window at midnight, letting them- 

 selves down by a rope into the boat ; and rowing to some 

 unfrequented .part of the shore, made excursions up the 

 country, though not so far as they could have wished. 

 When Captain Cook complained of these restrictions, the 

 only answer he obtained from the viceroy was, that he had 

 acted in conformity to his master's orders. It was now 

 agreed to present two memorials to the viceroy ; one was 

 written by the captain, the other by Mr. Banks : the 

 answers received were in no way satisfactory. The 

 captain, judging it necessary, in vindication of his com- 

 pliance, to urge the viceroy to an act of force in the execution 

 of his orders, sent Lieutenant Hicks, with a packet, with 

 directions not to allow a guard in his boat. The officer 

 of the guard-boat did not oppose him by force, but ac- 

 companying the lieutenant on shore, went to the viceroy, 

 and acquainted him with what had passed, which induced 

 his excellency to refuse opening the packet, commanding 

 the lieutenant to return. Finding a soldier had been put 



