A VAST UNEXPLORED SEA. 



491 



23d, in latitude 67°, found his passage obstructed by such quan- 

 tities that he abandoned all hopes of proceeding any farther in 

 that direction, and resolved to return to the north. As he was 

 in the longitude of 137°, it was clear that there must be a vast 



space of sea to the north unexplored, — a space of twenty-four 

 degrees, in which a large tract of land might possibly lie. 



Late in February, 1774, Cook was taken ill of bilious colic* 



