DRAWINGS BY JOHN WEBBER OF NATIVES OF THE 

 NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA. 1778 



By DAVID I. BUSHNELL, JR. 

 (With 12 Plates) 



The third and last expedition commanded by Captain James Cook 

 was one of the most remarkable voyages of discovery in the history 

 of the world. 



Early in the year 1776 the two ships — the Rcsoliifioii and the Dis- 

 coz'cry — were, as Captain Cook wrote : " in the dock at Deptford, 

 under the hands of shipwriohts ; lieing- ordered to be equipped to make 

 farther discoveries in the Pacific Ocean, under my direction." Every- 

 thing was supplied and furnished that was believed essential or that 

 would, in any way, aid in the fulfillment of the great undertaking. 

 When all was ready the}' sailed from England about the middle of 

 July, 1776. Captain Cook was on the Resolution which carried a 

 crew, officers and men, of 112. The Discovery, a sloop of 300 tons, 

 had 80 men on board and was commanded by Captain Charles Clerke. 

 After many eventful experiences the two ships returned safely and 

 arrived at the Nore, October 4. 1780. 



V^ery extensive and valuable collections of ethnographical material 

 were made during the voyage, and many of the objects are now to 

 be seen in the various European museums. Thirty- four specimens 

 are in the Anthropological Museum. Florence. Italy. Twenty-three of 

 these were secured at Nootka and include garments, ornaments, 

 weapons, and ceremonial ]:)ieces. The remaining 1 1 examples were 

 gathered at Prince William Sound. Oonalashka. and Norton Sound. 

 All were described, and many figured, by (liglioli in 1895. 



Doctor Anderson, surgeon on the Resolution, wdio had attended 

 Captain Cook on a previous voyage. ])robably collected many speci- 

 mens ; he likewise made several vocabularies, one being of the natives 

 of Nootka. After a lingering illness Anderson died August 3, 1778. 

 His death proved a great loss to the expedition. 



To quote again from Ca])tain Cook's own narrative : "And, that 

 we might go out with every help that could serve to make the result 

 of our voyage entertaining to the generality of readers, as well as 

 instructive to the sailor and scholar. Mr. Webber was pitched upon, 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 80. No. 10 



