488 THE PROGRESS OP MARITIME DISCOVERY. 



took a lower studding-sail, and, having mixed a large quantity of 

 oakum and wool together, stitched them down by handfuls as 

 lightly as possible. The sail was then hauled under the ship's 

 bottom by means of ropes which kept it extended. When it 

 came under the leak, the wool and oakum, with part of the sail, 

 were forced inwards by the pressure of the water, which thus 

 prevented its own ingress in such an effectual manner that one 

 pump, instead of three, was now sufficient to keep it under. In 

 this way they got the ship into a convenient port on the coast of 

 New Holland, where they repaired the injury. Here it was 

 found that their preservation was not entirely owing to that in- 

 genious expedient, for one of the holes in the ship's bottom was 

 almost entirely plugged by a piece of rock which had broken off 

 and stuck in it ; and this hole was so large, that, had it not been 

 filled up in this truly extraordinary manner, the vessel must un- 

 doubtedly have sunk. Some persons, leading a tranquil life 

 unvexed by storm or wave, might perhaps be inclined to ascribe 

 so miraculous an escape to chance, but the seaman, who has had 

 death before his eyes, will always in such a case recognise the 

 hand of an Almighty protector : and who can doubt that a thrill 

 of intense gratitude flashed through the soul of Cook on the dis- 

 covery of the cause to which he owed the preservation of his 

 life? 



With a vessel thus shattered, and a crew thus worn with 

 fatigue, further discoveries were no more to be thought of, and 

 Cook hastened to return by way of Batavia and the Cape to 

 England, where he arrived on the 11th of June, 1771. 



The object of his second voyage (1772 — 1775) was to determine " 

 finally the question of the existence of a great southern continent, 

 and to extend the geography of that part of the globe to its utmost 

 limits. Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander had accompanied 

 him on his first voyage, this time John Keinhold Forster and 

 his son George were engaged by government to explore and 

 collect the natural history of the countries through which they 

 should pass. 



On the 13th of July, 1772, Cook sailed from Plymouth, and 

 reached the Cape without having a single man sick. Well 

 aware how much cleanliness and pure air contribute to health, 

 he had neglected none of the means necessary to insure it. 

 Every day the beds were aired, the linen of the sailors was 



