INTRODUCTION. 
that much has not been gained? But may we not carry 
our wifhes and our hopes ftill farther ? Great Britain it- 
felf, when firft vifited by the Phoenicians, was inhabited by 
painted Savages, not, perhaps, bleffed with higher attain¬ 
ments than are pofteffed by the prefent natives of New Zea¬ 
land; certainly lefs civilized than thofe of Tongataboo or 
Otaheite. Our having opened an intercourfe with them, is 
the firft ftep toward their improvement. Who knows, but 
that our late voyages may be the means appointed by Pro¬ 
vidence, of fpreading, in due time, the bleflings of civi¬ 
lization amongft the numerous tribes of the South Pacific 
Ocean; of abolifhing their horrid repafts and their horrid 
rites; and of laying the foundation for future and more 
effectual plans, to prepare them for holding an honourable 
ftation amongft the nations of the earth ? This, at leaft, is 
certain, that our having, as it were, brought them into ex- 
iftence by our extenfive refearches, will fuggeft to us frefh 
motives of devout gratitude to the Supreme Being, for hav¬ 
ing bleffed us with advantages hitherto withheld from fo 
great a proportion of the human race; and will operate 
powerfully to incite us to perfevere in every feafible at¬ 
tempt, to be his inftruments in refcuing millions of fellow- 
creatures from their prefent ftate of humiliation. 
The feveral topics, which occurred, as fuitable to this ge¬ 
neral Introduaion, being now difcuffed, nothing remains 
but to ftate a few particulars, about which the reader of 
thefe volumes has a right to expea fome information. 
Captain Cook, knowing, before he failed upon this laft 
expedition, that it was expeaed from him to relate, as well 
as to execute its operations, had taken care to prepare fuch 
a journal as might be made ufe of for publication. This 
journal. 
Ixxvii 
