40 CAPTAIN COOK 



extravagant questions. They asked them, for 

 instance, when it would thunder, and if they 

 could find within the walls of the convent a 

 spring of water, of which they stood in need. 

 The devoted ladies, who upon entering religion 

 had omitted to take a vow of silence, let loose a 

 torrent of foolish questions upon their compla- 

 cent visitors. 



Before putting to sea, Cook took on board a 

 large quantity of fresh water, fresh beef, wine 

 and fruit. He deferred as long as he could the 

 consumption by his crew of salt meat, which 

 was one of the causes of scurvy, that slow illness 

 of the blood which is the scourge of seamen. 

 Cook fought this complaint, which he was able 

 to conquer definitely after his second voyage, 

 more resolutely than any doctor. Watching 

 with an anxious care over the health of the crew, 

 he ordered, while at Funchal, twelve lashes 

 apiece to two men who had refused to eat their 

 ration of fresh meat. 



The Endeavour pursued her way down the 

 Atlantic without any striking incident. The 

 equator was crossed with the usual ceremonies. 

 The naturalists captured strange fish and killed 

 curious birds. One night they were favoured 

 with the marvellous spectacle of a phosphores- 

 cent sea, and, having cast a net overboard, they 

 collected an unknown specimen of medusa, and 



