484 THE PROGRESS OF MARITIME DISCOVERY. 



had reaped by the voyages of Verazzani and Cartier. The con- 

 sequences of this emulation were not unimportant. Bougainville 

 (1766 — 1768) completed the discovery of the Solomon Islands, 

 which Mendana had only partly seen ; Wallis made the world 

 acquainted with the beauties of Tahiti, and Byron explored the 

 unvisited coasts of Patagonia. But the fame of these worthy 

 mariners was soon eclipsed by a greater renown, for, in the same 

 year that Wallis returned from his expedition, Cook sailed from 

 the port of Plymouth on his first voyage round the world. 



