CHAPTER XXIII 



THE DISCOVERY OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA 



COOK had first seen New Zealand on the 7th of October, cook sails 



1769. He sailed from Cape Farewell on the 1st of April, for New 



. , . . ^11 Holland. 



1770, having spent nearly six months in a most profitable 



way. His " Instructions " ordered that, after exploration 

 of New Zealand, he should return to England by such route 

 as he should think proper. He wished to return by way 

 of Cape Horn in order to settle the business of the Southern 

 Continent. " But," writes Banks, " our sails and rigging, 

 with which* the former especially, we were at first but 

 ill-provided, were rendered so bad by the blowing weather 

 we had met with off New Zealand, that we were by no 

 means in condition to weather the hard gales which must 

 be expected in a winter passage through high latitudes." 

 The suggestion that they should sail directly to the Cape 

 of Good Hope was laid aside on the ground that no discovery 

 of any moment could be hoped for on that route. They 

 had still six months' -provisions at two-thirds allowance, 

 much more thafi enough to carry them to any port in the 

 East Indies, and on this route there was hope of discoveries 

 of great importance both to geographer and to merchant. 

 " It was therefore resolved upon leaving this coast to steer 

 to the Westward until we fall in with the East coast of 

 New Holland, and then to follow the direction of that 

 coast to the Northward, and what other direction it 

 might take us, until we arrive at its Northern extremity; 

 and, if this should be found impracticable, then to 

 endeavour to fall in with the land or islands discovered 

 by Quiros." 



409 



