BEFORE THE GREAT VOYAGE 37 



the island, called by its inhabitants Tahiti or 

 Otahiti, should be the first objective of the scien- 

 tific expedition. 



The organisation proceeded rapidly. Cook 

 signed on a complement of eighty-five men, con- 

 sisting, besides the officers, of a surgeon, carpen- 

 ter and other tradesmen, forty-one experienced 

 seamen, twelve marines, and nine servants. The 

 vessel was victualled for eighteen months, and 

 was armed with ten carronades and twelve 

 swivel-guns, with the necessary ammunition and 

 stores. 



The scientists who were to sail in the En- 

 deavour were as follows. Charles Green, an 

 eminent astronomer, Joseph Banks, a very 

 young and very rich scientist who had already 

 made a considerable name for himself as a 

 botanist, and Dr. Solander, a disciple of Lin- 

 naeus, the famous Swedish naturalist, and a natu- 

 ralist himself. Mr. Banks brought with him an 

 assistant, three draughtsmen, and four servants, 

 two white and two coloured. 



On May 25th Cook received his commission 

 as lieutenant, and on the 27th he hoisted the 

 English ensign on the Endeavour at Deptford, 

 on the Thames. On July 30th he dropped down 

 the river, and on August 14th anchored in Ply- 

 mouth Sound, where he completed his arming 



