lO 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
On the 21st January they started on their long voyage to Otahite* 
(Tahiti). On the 4th April they were abreast of Lagoon Island, and 
Banks gives an account of the lemon- juice preparation he had brought 
to ward off the scurvy. During the whole of the cruise there was 
very little scurvy, and the greatest credit is due to Captain Cook 
(in which he was doubtless well supported by Banks) for the pre- 
ventive arrangements which brought about so excellent a result. 
They made the long stay from 13th April to 12th July at Otahite, 
partly to recuperate, but mainly to observe the Transit of Venus, 
which was one of the main objects of the voyage. 
They found the natives exceedingly pleased to see them, a ceremonial 
reception took place, and Banks gives a very interesting account of 
the manners and customs of the natives, the harmony of the visitors’ 
relations with them being chiefly disturbed by the propensity of the 
natives to steal. The latter became very friendly, and gave names 
to almost every man in the ship, that to Captain Cook being Toote, 
and that of Banks Tapane. 
A temporary fort was erected here, and many articles brought 
ashore. The most active preparations were made for the Transit. 
On the 31st May Banks w'rites, “ The day of observation now approaches 
In consequence of hints from Lord Morton, the 
captain resolved to send a party to the eastward and another to Imao 
(Eimeo, or Moorea), an island in sight of us, tliinking that in case of 
thick weather one or the other might be more successful than those 
at the observatory. I resolved to go on the Imao expedition.” 
(Sir J. D. Hooker’s “ Journal of Sir Joseph Banks,” p. 94.) 
On the fateful 3rd of June the sun rose bright and clear. Banks, 
not being an astronomer, did “ the double service of examining the 
natural produce and buying provision for my companions who were 
engaged in so useful a work.” On the 4th, Banks rejoined the party 
and found that the observation of the Transit had been made at the 
observatory “ with as much success as Mr. Green and the captain 
could wish, the day having been perfectly clear, without so much as 
a cloud intervening.” 
The main object of the stay having been accomplished. Banks busied 
himself with natural history investigations and studying the customs 
of the natives, a very interesting account of whom he has handed 
down to us. He gives us the first account of the bread-fruit. 
The somewhat luxurious visit at Otahite at length came to an end, 
and Banks took a native of the island, Tupia by name, with him on 
the ship. 
^ Spelt ()^ilheite by Huwkeswort li. This island was discovered by Captain Wallis, R.N., in 
17d7, and naiTiod by him King George the Third’s Island. It is the largest and most important 
of the Society Islands, and has been a French colony since 1842. A chart of this island, as also 
of Eimeo, by Cook, will be found in Hawkesworth. 
