SECOND VOYAGE 213 



26th of April this work was finished ; and having got on 

 board all necessary stores, and a fresh supply of provisions 

 and water, they took leave of the governor and other 

 principal officers, and the next morning repaired on board. 



As soon as they were under sail they saluted the garrison 

 with thirteen guns, which compliment was immediately 

 returned with the same number. A Spanish frigate and 

 Danish Indiaman both saluted them as they passed, and 

 Captain Cook returned each salute with an equal number 

 of guns. 



While at the Cape, Captain Cook wrote the following 

 preface to his Voyage, which we give verbatim from the 

 original documents : 



EXPLANATIONS. 



" I had begun this journal from the time the voyage was first 

 resolved upon, and the sloops put in commission. I had given 

 some account of the various alterations the Resolution under- 

 went, and of the final equipment of the two sloops, and in what 

 manner, etc., etc. I had also mentioned the gentlemen who were 

 to embark in the voyage, and those who did actually embark, 

 and for what purpose. I had likewise mentioned the watches, 

 and various other articles being put on board for trial and ex- 

 periments ; but when I considered that all these things were well- 

 known to the Admiralty, for whose information only I was to keep 

 an account of my proceedings, I thought it would be quite un- 

 necessary to prefix them to this journal, and that it would be 

 sufficient to let it commence at the time of my sailing from Plymouth. 



' The natural day is made use of throughout the journal, and 

 not the nautical : so that whenever the terms, 'A.M.' and P.M.' 

 are used, the former signifies the forenoon, or first half of the day ; 

 and the latter, the afternoon, or latter half. 



" In all courses, bearings, etc., the variation of the compass 

 is allowed, unless the contrary is expressed. 



" Greenwich is supposed to be the first, or fixed meridian ; all 

 to the east of this meridian is called east longitude, and all to the 

 west, west longitude, as far as to the opposite meridian, or 180 each 

 way. 



"The charts are constructed agreeable to this rule, and with 

 all the accuracy that circumstances would admit, partly from my 

 own observations, and partly from Mr. Gilbert's, my master, whose 

 judgment and assiduity in this, as well as every other branch of his 

 profession, is exceeded by none. 



" The views, etc., are all by Mr. Hodges, and are so judiciously 

 chosen, and executed in so masterly a manner, as not only to elucidate 

 what I may have said, but will of themselves fully express the 

 different subjects they represent. 



" It will be found that some days have been passed over un- 

 noticed ; on such days no interesting circumstance accrued. 



" On reading over the journal, I find I have omitted some things, 

 and others were not sufficiently explained ; these defects are at- 

 tempted to be made up by notes. In short, I have given the 



