lxxxii INTRODUCTION. {Prior Discoveries. 
Tasmak. written, as in the original, on the point of land between the inner 
and outer bays: I conceive the name was intended to comprise 
both * 
Cook. MoR£ than a century had e ] apsed after ^ celebrated voyage of 
Tasman, and the eastern limit of Terra Australis remained still 
unknown. But the British nation was then taking the lead in dis- 
covery; and the new and liberal principles upon which His Majesty, 
George III. ordered it to be prosecuted, was a sure indication that 
so considerable a part of the globe would not long escape attention. 
Captain James Cook, accompanied by Mr. Green, was sent in the 
Endeavour to observe, at Taheity, the transit of Venus over the sun's 
disk ; and after accomplishing that object, and making a survey of 
New Zealand, he continued his course westward, in order to explore 
the east side of the Terra Australis Incognita. 
(Atias,Pi.i.) In the morning of April 19, 1770, the land was seen bearing from 
north-east to west ; the furthest part, in the latter direction, being 
judged to lie in 38° south, and 148° 53 > east. But captain Cook 
could not determine whether it did, or did not, join to Tasman's 
Van Diemen's Land. 
It would be superfluous, here, to follow our great navigator in his 
discoveries along the coast, northward to Botany Bay and from 
thence to Cape York. Such an abstract as suits the plan of this 
Introduction would be little satisfactory to the reader; when, by 
an easy reference to the original narrative, so much interesting 
information upon this new country, its productions, and inhabitants, 
may be obtained.* 
_ This voyage of captain Cook, whether considered in the extent of 
his discoveries and the accuracy with which they were traced, or in 
the labours of his scientific associates, far surpassed all that had 
* In Vol. III. just published, of captain Burney's History of Discoveries in the South 
Hea, a copy Is g lve n of Tasman's charts, as they stand in the original, 
f Hawkesworth's Voyages, Vol. III. pi) g e 77, e t seq. 
