VOYAGE OF THE ENDEAVOUR 395 



after the astronomical observations should be completed, 

 to prosecute the design of making discoveries in the South Observa- 

 Pacific Ocean by proceeding to the South as far as the 

 Latitude 40 ; then, if I found no land, to proceed to the 

 West, between 40 and 35, till I fell in with New Zealand, 

 which I was to explore, and then to return to England 

 by such route as I should think proper." That is to say, 

 Cook was to explore the South Pacific, with a view especially 

 to testing the theory of the geographers that the space 

 between America and New Zealand was mainly occupied Search for 

 by a gigantic continent. It should be carefully observed Southern 

 that Cook and Banks were continually referring to the Continent, 

 volumes of de Brosses and the booklet of Dalrymple. 

 Dalrymple, as we have noticed, had hoped that he would 

 himself command the ship, and would make the last great 

 discovery the discovery of a Southern Continent as 

 big as Asia ! He had been treated, so he believed, with 

 cruel injustice. But this should not prevent him from 

 placing at the disposal of the supplanter the precious 

 information which he alone possessed. " In spite of the 

 injury done me," he afterwards wrote, " I gave Mr. Joseph 

 Banks all the information I could, and accordingly he carried 

 with him the Octavo " Account of the Discoveries made 

 in the South Pacific Ocean," with the Chart, which I printed 

 several months before, though I did not publish it till 

 after Bougainville's return." 1 One main purpose of the 

 voyage was to see whether Dalrymple's Southern Continent 

 existed. 



They sailed on the 26th of August, 1768, " all in excellent The 

 health and spirits," says Banks, " perfectly prepared 

 (in mind at least) to undergo with cheerfulness any fatigues Aug. 1768. 

 or dangers that may occur." On the loth of September 

 they " dined in Africa, and took leave of Europe for Heaven 

 knows how long, perhaps for ever " ; and the memory 

 of friends made Banks sigh once, but not twice ! Five 

 precious days he botanised in Madeira. One of them 

 had to be sacrificed to the " unsought honour of an official 

 visit from the Governor" ; but Banks revenged himself 

 1 Dalrymple's Letter to Dr. Hawkesworth. 



