THE SOCIETY ISLANDS. 



OF the several islands so called, and which were discovered by 

 captain Cook,* in the year 1769, the principal are Huaheine, Ulitea, 



* At the close of the year 1767, it was resolved by the Royal Society, that it 

 would be proper to send persons into some parts of the South Sea, to observe a 

 transit of the planet Venus over the Sun's disk, which, according to astronomical 

 calculation, would happen in the year 1769; and that the islands called Marquesas 

 de Mendosa, or those of Rotterdam xtr Amsterdam, were the properest places 

 then known for making- such observations. In consequence of these resolutions, 

 it was recommended to his majesty, in a memorial from the society, dated February, 

 1768, that he would be pleased to order such an observation to be made ; upon 

 which his majesty signified to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty his plea- 

 sure that a ship should be provided to carry such observers as the society should 

 think fit, to the South Seas ; and accordingly a bark, of three hundred and seventy 

 tons, was prepared for that purpose. It was named the Endeavour, and command- 

 ed by captain James Cook, who was soon after, by the Royal Society, appointed, 

 with Mr. Charles Green, a gentleman who had long been assistant to Dr. Bradley 

 at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, to observe the transit. But while this ves- 

 sel was getting ready for her expedition, captain Wallis returned ; and it having 

 been recommended to him by Lord Morton, when he went out, to fix on a proper 

 place far this astronomical observation, he, by letter, dated on board the Dolphin, 

 the 18th of May, 1768, the day before he landed at Hastings, mentioned Port 

 Royal harbour, in the island of Otaheite ; the Koyal Society, therefore, by letter, 

 dated the beginning of June, in answer to an application from the Admiralty, to 

 be informed whither they would have their observers sent, made choice of that 

 place. Captain Cook set sail from Plymouth, in the Endeavour, on the 26th of 

 August, 1768. He was accompanied in his voyage by Joseph Banks, esq. and 

 Dr. Solander. They made no discovery till they got within the tropic, where they 

 fell in with Lagoon Island, Two Groups, Bird Island, and Chain Island ; and they 

 arrived at Otaheite on the 13th of April, 1769. During their stay at that island, 

 they had the opportunity of making very accurate inquiries relative to its produce 

 and inhabitants ; and, on the 4th of June, the whole passage of the planet Venus 

 over the Sun's disk was observed by them with great advantage. The result of 

 their observations may be found in the Philosophical Transactions. After his de- 

 parture from Otaheite, captain Cook discovered and visited the Society Islands and 

 Oheteroa, and thence proceeded to the south till he arrived in the latitude of 40 

 degrees 22 minutes, longitude 147 degrees 29 minutes W. and afterwards made 

 an accurate survey of the coast of New Zealand. In November he discovered a 

 chain of islands, which he railed Barrier Islands. He afterwards proceeded to 

 New Holland, and from thence to New Guinea; and in September, 1770, arrived 

 at the island of Savti, from whence he proceeded to Batavia, and from thence 

 round the Cape of Good Hope to England, where he arrived on the 12th of June, 

 1771. 



Soon after captain Cook's return home in the Endeavour, it was resolved to equip 

 two ships, in order to make further discoveries in the southern hemisphere. Ac- 

 cordingly the Resolution and the Adventure wtve appointed for that purpose : the 

 first was commanded by captain Cook, and the latter by captain Tobias Furneaux. 

 They sailed from Plymouth Sound on the 13th of July, -1772 ; and on the 29th of 

 the same month arrived at the island of Madeira. From thence they proceeded to 

 the Cape of Good Hope : and in February, 1773, arrived at New Zealand, having 

 sought in vain for a southern continent. In that month the Resolution and the 

 Adventure separated, in consequence of a thick fog, but they joined company 

 again in Queen Charlotte's Sound, on the 18th of May following. In August they 

 arrived at Otaheite ; and in September they discovered Harvey's Island. On the 

 second of October they came to Middleburgh, one of the Friendly Islands ; and 

 about the close of that month the Resolution and the Adventure were separated, 

 and did not join company any more. Captain Cook, however, proceeded in the 

 Resolution, in order to make discoveries in the southern poll., regions, but was 

 stopped in his progress by the ice, in the latitude of 71 degrees 10 minutes south; 



Vol. II, 4 B 



