THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 239 



which he reckoned to have been hitherto unex- 

 plored by Europeans, and left proofs of his visit 

 in various places. 



On several occasions he landed and came into 

 contact w^ith the inhabitants of the regions where 

 he stopped. He observed strange customs, such 

 as that of the Americans of Prince William Bay, 

 who slit horizontally the under side of their 

 lower lips. They could put their tongues 

 through this opening, and seemed to have two 

 mouths. The further northward he went the 

 more he observed the likeness between the inhab- 

 itants of these northern countries and the Esqui- 

 maux. A great number of these tribes were in 

 touch with the Russians, who bought their furs. 



Cook sailed through Bering Strait, and dur- 

 ing part of July navigated the frozen waters of 

 the Arctic Ocean. Before returning south- 

 wards, he visited the shores of Asia and America 

 surrounding the Strait. On August 3rd, Ander- 

 son, surgeon and naturalist, died of a chest com- 

 plaint from which he had suffered for a year. 

 Cook felt keenly the loss of this amiable scientist 

 and perfect gentleman. 



As the summer was coming to an end and it 

 was not advisable to remain any longer in these 

 cold regions. Cook resolved to pass the winter In 

 the Sandwich Islands, which he wished to ex- 

 plore more fully. His idea was to return to the 



