86 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
Solander to Ellis. London, Friday Night, July 22, 1774. 
Nothing but the arrival of an Otaheite friend* could have made me so forgetful, 
in regard to you and many more of my English friends. But as I am one of the 
three that he can converse with, I have been obliged to give him almost all my 
time, in hopes that my other friends will forgive me. However, I have waited 
upon Dr. Fothergill, to let him know that I would, according to your desire, 
deliver back to him all the corals which are already figured ; but he chose rather 
that they should remain in your chamber till his return. He sets out next 
Monday or Tuesday. I have delivered to Mr. Fabricius the walnut twig. 
Now I will give you a short account of the voyage performed by Captain 
Furneaux in the “ Adv'enture,” who left England in the summer of 1772, with 
Captain Cook in the “ Resolution.” They kept company to the Cape of Good 
Hope; and in the beginning of December left that place, steering south, in search 
of Cape Circumcision, which they did not find ; they, therefore, proceeded as far 
south as they coidd go; but in latitude 07° 10' south, the ice prevented their 
proceeding further. 
They afterwards steered a little northward, and so east, shaping their course 
towards New Zealand, where Charlotte Sound was to be their rendezvous. Soon 
after they had left the ice, near the suppo.sed place of Cape Circumcision, the two 
ships by accident parted company. Captain Cook all along steering a more 
southerly course, chiefly in latitude 60°; he at last anchored in Dusky Harbour, 
on the southernmost ])art of New Zealand. Captain Furneaux, keeping two 
or three degrees more to the northward, at last made the south part of New 
Holland, where he anchored in Bay Frederick- Henry. He staid there but a few 
days, and then proceeded to the place of rendezvous in Charlotte Sound, where 
he arrived two months before Cajjtain Cook came uj) to him from the southern 
district of New Zealand. From thence the two ships kept company to Otaheite, 
where they were remarkably well and friendly received. As their sta}' in New 
Zealand was longer than tirst proposed, they could stay but a short time in 
Otaheite, not above eight or ten days. A most cruel war had caused a great 
scarcity, and many of •nir friends were killed in a battle, where several thousands 
were slain bj’^ the people of Little Otaheite, who, for the sake of .securing the title 
of King to their chief, had ventured a second time to attack the people of the 
Great Otaheite, and both times ]iroved victorious. The two ships afterward.s 
visited Huaheine, where Omait. the Indian, who is now residing in Mr. Banks’ 
house, came on board Ca])tain Furneaux's ship. He is a native of Ulaietea, and 
was at Otaheite when we were there. Oridi, a native of Bola Bola, at the same 
time embarked in Captain Cook’s ship. After a week’s stay at Huaheine, they 
went to Ulaietea, where they staid five or six days ; and afterwards, in their way 
to the south, fell in with the islands of Middleburg and Amsterdam, two very 
delightful spots, well described by Tasman. 
They staid but three days in those islands, and then proceeded again towards 
Charlotte Sound in New Zealand, to take in wood and water. The “ Resolution.” 
which is a better sailing s li]) than the “ Adventure,” got into the harbour on 
the 2!)th of November last, when the latter was blown otf the coast, and obliged 
to run to the northward, and anchor in Tolagi. where the inhabitants rejoiced 
to see the friends of Tubaya and all of us. After a short stay there. Captain 
Furneaux made the be.st of his way towards Charlotte Sound, but did not get 
in till the latter end of December, when he learnt, from a letter left in a bottle 
that Captain Cook had left the place four days before his arrival. The inhabitants 
seemed now, as well as before, well pleased with their guests; but still a very 
dismal catastrophe made him repent his coming hither. One day he had sent 
out a boat, with an acting-lieutenant (lilr. Rowe), a midshipman, the ship’s 
• Omii; sec below, p. 217. 
t For a note on O nai and Banks, see Kitson, p. 353. 
