CHAPTEE XI 



NEW ZEALAND TO AUSTRALIA (ENDEAVOUR RIVER) 

 MARCH 31 JUNE 18, 1770 



Choice of routes Reasons in favour of and against the existence of a southern 

 continent Suggestions for a proposed expedition in search of it Leave 

 ^ New Zealand Malt wort Portuguese man-of-war and its sting Hot 

 weather Land seen "Waterspouts Variation of the compass Natives 

 Their indifference to the ship Opposition to landing Excursion into 

 the country Vegetation and animals seen Botanising Timidity of the 

 natives Enormous sting-rays Treachery of natives Leave Botany Bay 

 Ants Stinging caterpillars Gum trees Oysters Crabs Figs im- 

 pregnated by Gynips East Indian plants Ants' nests Butterflies 

 Amphibious fish Ship strikes on a coral rock Critical position 

 Fothering the ship Steadiness of the crew The ship taken into the 

 Endeavour River Scurvy. 



HAVING now entirely circumnavigated New Zealand, and 

 found it, not as generally supposed, part of a continent, but 

 two islands, and having not the least reason to imagine that 

 any country larger than itself lay in its neighbourhood, it 

 was resolved to leave it and proceed upon further discoveries 

 on our return to England, as we were determined to do as 

 much as the state of the ship and provisions would allow. In 

 consequence of this resolution a consultation was held and 

 three schemes proposed. One, much the most eligible, was to 

 return by Cape Horn, keeping all the way in the high lati- 

 tudes, by which means we might with certainty determine 

 whether or not a southern continent existed. This was 

 unanimously agreed to be more than the condition of the 

 ship would allow. Our provisions indeed might be equal to 

 it ; we had six months' at two- thirds allowance, but our 



