A.D. 1768.

Birth and education--Enters the Royal Navy--Employed to take soundings
in the Saint Lawrence--Diligence in study--Marriage--Expedition to
observe the transit of Venus--Cook appointed to the command--Equipment
of the _Endeavour_--Scientific men sail with him--Leave Plymouth--The
nuns of Santa Clara--Jealousy of the Governor of Rio de Janeiro--Natives
come on board--Their behaviour--Landing and exploring the country--
Overtaken by a snow-storm--Sufferings from cold--Return to the ship--
Voyage continued--Round Cape Horn--Run 700 leagues--Coral reefs--Naming
islands--Anchor in Matavia Bay--Conduct of the natives--Captain Cook
lands--Aspect of the country--Reception by the chiefs--Pocket-picking by
the inhabitants--A thief shot--Annoyance of Captain Cook--Excursions up
the country--Erect a fort--Punishment of one of the ship's company--The
pity of the natives excited--Theft--Recovery of the property--The
transit of Venus--The Queen Oberea--A native priest wishes to accompany
the English--Dress, habits, and manufactures of the natives--The
expedition sails--Islands visited--A famous warrior--Dancers--The
Society Islands--Off Oheteroa--Opposition of the people--Anniversary of
sailing--A comet--Discovery of New Zealand--Disturbance with the
natives--Prisoners taken--Attempt to carry off a boy--Mercury Bay--
Furious Gale--Survey of New Zealand completed--Australia sighted--
Anchor, and go on shore--Conduct of the people--Botany Bay--Strikes a
reef--Repairing the vessel--Australia--Sail for England--Sickness at
Batavia--Arrival.

Captain James Cook, who deservedly takes rank as the greatest of English
explorers and navigators, was the son of a farm labourer, and born at
Marton, near Stockton-upon-Tees, on the 27th of October, 1728.  Shortly
afterwards his father, an intelligent and industrious man, obtained a
situation as farm bailiff to Mr Thomas Skottowe, of Airy-holme, near
Ayton, in Yorkshire, by whom young James, when old enough, was sent to a
commercial school, where he learned writing and the rules of a