James Cook held the rank and position of Commander of the sloop Resolution, and Tobias Furneaux was Commander of the sloop Adventure.  However, both people were called by everyone Captain, as was usual for those in charge of ships.  Cook was also Commodore of this squadron.

At the beginning of January 1774, both ships were involved in searching for the Great Southern Continent, but they were not together.  They had become separated off the coast of New Zealand in October the previous year.  Although they both reached the rendezvous point of Queen Charlotte Sound, they did so separately, and never saw each other again. 

Resolution is Alone During January

On 1 January, 1774, Captain Cook wrote, “a breeze from the East... enabled us to resume our NWBN [North-West By North] Course.  Piercing cold weather, frequent snow showers, many ice islands”.  Resolution had sailed south-east from New Zealand the previous month, and then turned north in search of land.  Johann Reinhold Forster com­mented, “A good many colds are felt in the Ship, with rheumatic pains, swelled Glands etc. owing to the cold Climate, Ice water etc”.

The next day, Robert Palliser Cooper, First Lieutenant wrote, “Read the Articles of War & Punish’d Cha^s Loggie Seaman One Dozen for Drunkeness & Rioting”.  According to Isaac Smith, master’s mate, the punishment was for “Drunkeness and quarrelling”.  Charles Clerke, Second Lieutenant explained that it was “for abusing, drawing his knife upon, & cutting 2 of the Midshipmen—this Logie was formally a Midshipman of this ship, but for repeated ill behaviour the Captain thought proper to dismiss him the Quarter Deck—he has since more than once behav’d ill and now had proceeded to such lengths that y^e Common safety of the Ship[‘s] Company render’d it necessary to disgrace him with Corporal punishment”.

On 3 January, Cooper wrote, “Caught a large Albatross with Hook & Line”.  Forster was unwell.  “Though I never stir out of the Cabin, the least current however throws me again in a fever… I took something in the Evening to promote Perspiration”.  Two days later, he added, “We are to explore these Seas & to see whether any Land is in them: a small island at such a distance from Great Britain can be of no use & consequently of no consequence to this Great Nation.  A great continent cannot be there...  The Hurricanes which we must expect off Cape Horn, & other accidents which may happen & we cannot foresee require a healthy, strong Ships-Crew, which we cannot long keep, if they be called up several times a night & go down wet through without being able to dry themselves or to shift cloth[e]s”.

On 6 January, Cooper wrote, “Lost the Log & 2 Lines”.  Such incidents occurred several times during the month.  The next day, Cook “at 8 AM observed several distances of the Sun and Moon, the results were as follows, M^r Wales 133°24', M^r Gilbert 133°10', M^r Clerk 133°00', and Self 133°37' West Longitude.  M^r Kendals watch at the same time gave 133°44' W”.  William Wales was the astrono­mer, and Joseph Gilbert was the Master.  Larcum Kendall’s chronometer was one of a few watches aboard having their capabilities tested. 

The next day, Forster was feeling a little better.  “Went the first time on deck since two days after Christmas.  Feel still flying rheumatic pains in my limbs”.  On the following day, Cook “at 9 o’Clock had again several Observations of the Sun and Moon the results were confirmable to yesterday and determined our Long^de beyond a doubt.  Indeed our error can never be great so long as we have so good a guide as M^r Kendalls watch”.  Kendall’s copy of John Harrison’s chronometer was often used, and occasionally praised.  Cook “altered the Course to ENE”. 

On 8 January, William Wales the astronomer wrote, “Many Albatrosses about the Ship & other sea Birds.  The Albatrosses are all very large & grey like those we used to see at and after leaving the Cape of Good Hope.  One was catched with a Hook & line, which measured near 10 ft. from the tip of one wing to that of the other”.  Cooper noted, “Lost the Log & 3 Lines”, and the next day, “Lost the Log & 2 Lines”.

On 10 January, Cook “hoisted out a small boat in which some of the officers went and Shott several Birds which made us a fresh meal”.  Forster related that “Two Lieutenants had a boat hoisted out & went a shooting, & killed 16 birds of 3 kinds, all of the Petrelkind or related to the Shearwaters”.  The next day, Cook wrote, “at noon being little more than two hundred Leagues from my track to Otaheite [in Endeavour] in 1769 in which space it was not probable any thing [i.e., land] was to be found

Cooper noted, “Fresh gales & Squally with a Westerly Swell.  A great many Petrels ab[ou]t the Ship”.  According to Forster, the naturalists “drew & described 3 kinds of Petrels; which all seem to be new, at least somewhat different from the known ones”.

The ship turned south, leading to Forster writing on 12 January, “we are now going again bearing away for the cold regions, which frequent & great changes of climate & weather must be very hurtfull to the Constitutions of our Ships-company, upon whose health & life the Success of our whole Expedition depends”.  The harsh weather led to much work in the ship, such as this noted by Smith, “Sailmakers repairing the Sails.  Carpenters repairing the Boats”.  The next day, poorly Forster wrote, “I have still rheumatic pains about me & can hardly bear the least breath of air, though I was used to be on deck in all weathers for a considerable time.  My pains increased this night to a great height”. 

On 14 January, Cooper wrote, “Strong gales & dark thick hazey Wea[the]r with Mixling Rain & a great Sea.  The Ship Rolls & works exceedingly...  Bro[ugh]t too& Reev’d a new Tiller Rope”.  Reeve means to pass the end of a rope through a hole.  Two days later, he added, “Strong gales & Squally...  A very great Sea Running.  The Ship Rolling very deep & shipping frequently large Columns of Water”.  Forster explained, “At 9 o’clock, there came a huge mountainous Sea & took the Ship in her middle, & overwhelmed all her parts with a Deluge.  The table in the Steerage, at which we were sitting, was covered with water, & it put our candle out: the great Cabin was quite washed over & over by the Sea coming through the Sides of the Ship”. 

On 18 January, Forster wrote, “The weather still colder in proportion as we advance to the South, our days grow longer, we could see at 10 o’clock without candle”.  Two days later, Cook saw “two ice islands one of which was very high terminating in a peak or like the Cupala of S^t Pauls Church, we judged it to be 200 feet high”.  Possibly, it was an ice berg that had melted away under the water, and then overturned”.  Forster commented, “Our Sailors have long been at ⅔ allowance, which in regard to bread is very hard; for the bread has unfortunately been packed in green casks, which absolutely spoiled all that which was in contact with the Sides of the cask”.  He noted that a few days earlier, “the first Mate came to the Captain & asked him where he should get bread to fill his belly with, for having picked the eatable from the bad, the former would not reach to satisfy the cravings of his Stomach.  The Captain ordered immediately 6 pounds of bread for his Mess, & full allowance of bread for every man”.

On 21 January, William Wales wrote, “An ugly short jacking sea something like which is usually met with in the Chops of the English Channel”.  Four days later, Cook exclaimed, “Not a bit of ice to be seen, which we who have been so much used to it think a little extraordinary and causes various opinions and conjectures”.  Cooper noted the men were “Employ’d cleaning between Decks”.

Resolution Crosses the Antarctic Circle Again

On 26 January, Cook wrote, “came the third time within the Antarctick Polar Circle”.  However, according to Cooper, “we Cross’d the Antarctic Circle the 5th time”.  Perhaps he was counting the two times they had crossed it sailing south, and the two occasions they had crossed it going north. 

The next day, a distraught Wales wrote “This morning one of the midshipmen broke the [indecipherable] of the Cylinder of my stop Watch whilst I was out of my Cabbin”.  According to Forster, “M^r Wales, the Astronomer, had left his Stop-Second-watch on his Shelf in his Cabin, & during this time a young Gentleman came in, took it in his hand, opened & dropt it, by which fall the Cylinder was broke, so that this caused him an infinite grief.  There are hardly any watches in the Ship alive: the great part being stopped long ago”.

On the following day, Cook wrote that in the morning, “the fog was so thick that we could not see a quarter of a Mile round us...  At 1 o’Clock in the PM fell in with some loose ice, brought-to, hoisted out two Boats and took a quantity on board; which done made sail to the NW not daring to stand to the South in so thick a fog which hindered us from seeing the extent or quantity of ice we were among”.

On 30 January, Cook wrote, “a little after 4 AM preceived the Clowds to the South near the horizon to be of an unusual Snow white brightness which denounced our approach to field ice, soon after it was seen from the Mast-head and at 8 o’Clock we were close to the edge of it which extended East and West in a streight line far beyond our sight...  In this field we counted Ninety Seven Ice Hills or Moun­tain, many of them vastly large... I will not say it was impossible anywhere to get in among this Ice, but I will assert that the bare attempting of it would be a very dangerous enterprise and what I believe no man in my situation would have thought of.  I whose ambition leads me not only farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go, was not sorry at meeting with this interruption, as it in some measure relieved us from the dangers and hardships, inseparable with the Navigation of the Southern Polar regions.  Sence therefore we could not proceed one Inch farther South, no other reason need be assigned for our Tacking and stretching back to the North, being... in the Latitude of 71°10' South, Longitude 106°54' W”.

Adventure is in the South Pacific During January

On 1 January, 1774, Captain Furneaux wrote, “First part [of the day] fresh gales and Squally with rain, middle part strong gales and squally.  Latter part moderate and fair”.  He also wrote, “Gave the Ships Company a Dram...  Shipp’d a great quantity of Water”.  Adventure had sailed south-east from New Zealand the previous month.  According to Furneaux’s log it was now “EBS”, i.e., East By South.

The next day, Furneaux continued, “Exercised small arms.  Lost a Logg & two Lines...  Saw a Whale”.  Such incidents occurred several times during the month. 

On 5 January, William Bayly the astronomer wrote, “Had strong gales for several days past with a great sea breaking over the ship frequently”.  The next day, Furneaux noted, “Sev[era]l Birds ab[ou]t the Ship, viz., Silver & Quaker Birds & Shear­waters”.  The following day, he “Read the Articles of War to the Ships Company”.

On 10 January, Furneaux wrote, “Fresh breeze and cloudy weather with snow and sleet in the latter part” of the day.  Bayly “saw three Islands of Ice.  NB: these are the first Islands of Ice we have seen since we left Zealand”.  The next day, Furneaux noted, “At 3 am saw an Island of Ice”.

On 15 January, Furneaux wrote, “At 2 am Passed an Island of Ice, at noon Passed two Islands of Ice”.  The next day, he “Saw some Birds, ab[ou]t the Size of a Gannett, w^th black backs & wings, white bellys & Heads, & a black ring round their necks”.  The following day, “At 4 pm Passed by an Island of Ice.  At 10 pm Lost the Log and three Lines”.  Two days later, “A Number of porpoises, marked black & white, ab^t the Ship”.

On 20 January, Bayly wrote, “the clouds breaking away I observed three sets of observations of the Sun and Moon, the mean result of which gave the Long^d of the Ship 241° 52' E of Green[wich]”.  Two days later, he “Read the Articles of War to the Ships Comp^y.  Clean’d between Decks, smoaked & washed w^th Vinegar, having not been able to open the Main gratings for sev^l days past”.

On 27 January, Furneaux wrote, “Saw Some Silver Birds, Shearwaters & Albatrosses”.  Two days later, “Fresh gales and cloudy weather with Squalls in the latter part [of the day].  AM a great many Porpoises, and birds of different kinds about the Ship”.

Resolution Searches Alone During February

On 1 February, Cooper wrote, “Saw some pieces of Ice to leeward of an Island of Ice.  Bro’^t too & hoisted out the Pinnace & Small Cutter to take some up, then stood off & on... taking on board Ice & melting it.  Hoisted in the Boats & made Sail”.  The next day, he noted, “We Crossed the Antarctic Circle the 6th time” as the ship sailed north.

On 6 February, Cook wrote, “we got the wind from the South, loosed all the reefs out, got top-gt yards and set the Sails and steered North-Easterly, with a resolution to proceed directly to the North as there was no probability of finding Land in these high Latitudes...  [As] I had a good Ship, a healthy crew and no want of Stores or Provisions I thought I cou’d not do better than to spend the insuing Winter within the Tropicks... my intintion is now to go in search of the Land said to be discovered by Juan Fernandas [in 1576, and then] to look for Easter Island [discovered by Jacob Roggeveen in 1722”. 

That same day, Cooper “Saw a very large Water Spout at some distance which seem’d to reak & disperse in about ½ an hour afterwards”.  Mid­shipman John Elliott recorded, “Mr Maxwell in unbending the Main topsail, Cut it in several Places; for which he was Order’d off the Quarter Deck to do Duty before the Mast”.  James Maxwell was thus demoted from midshipman to seaman.  The next day, Smith wrote, “Fresh gales and squally with showers of Snow and hail...  Finding that both the Topsails much Split and some parts blown overboard, the Captain ordered the remains of one to be used in the repairing of the other”.

On 15 February, Wales wrote, “It is a little remark­able that in all our track to the southward, this Season, we have never once seen the least Glimpse of the Southern Lights [Aurora australis].  Indeed I don’t, at present, recollect that we have had one night, in all the time, clear enough for their appearance”.  The next day, he saw “Many Alba­trosses about the ship some of which seem the largest I have ever seen”.

On 18 February, Forster wrote, “we are now three months out on this cruize, & it is high time to come to some port & have some Vegetables & fresh provisions, for though few are sick, however those that recover from colds & Rheumatisms cannot recover their Strength & vigour; & it is probable that this weakness will lay them open to the attacks of the Scurvy”.  The next day, Cook noted, “We are nearly upon the Track of the Dolphin Captain Wallis, having cross’d that of the Endeavour two days ago”. 

On 21 February, Cooper wrote, “A great number of Grampus’s about the ship.  Kill’d two of them dead but did not stop to take them up”.  Forster tells us the name of the shooter.  “M^r Cooper, our first Lieut shot two Grampusses with Musket balls”.  The next day, Cooper recorded, “Punish’d John Innell John Leverick & Rich^d Lee Seamen, the first with one dozen the others half a dozen each for Drunkenness & neglect of Duty”.

On 26 February, Cooper wrote, “Bore away for Easter Island there being but little probability of getting so far to the Westw^d as Juan Fernandez land, provided there is such a place, as there is so great a Swell from that Quarter”. 

Illness Aboard Resolution

According to Forster, “My Servant” Ernest Scholient had complained a little while earlier “of a colic & pain in his stomach...  I advised him to go to the Doctor [James Patten] & use something, but he postponed, til he grew at last very wretched & poor by pain & starving himself.  The doctor gave him several Medecines & purges, Glysters etc, all which, after several days pains, cleared all the coagulated, hard, bilious, Faeces, & he at last was enabled to leave the bed; but he was so weak that at present after several days, he can but just stand on his Legs”.

Also that day, Forster wrote, “The Cap^t [had] felt for several days a pain in his Stomach & being confined, did not chuse to use something: he ate little & what he ate, were hard, slated, indigestable materials, which could afford no nourishment in the weak state of his Stomach: at last the pain grew to such a heigth, that he took to his bed, he took a purge, but vomited... there soon appeared a hiccough which was unconquerable by opiats, warm bathing... & he is now so weak as not to be able to stand on his legs.  If the hiccough will not leave off, his life I think is in danger”.

The next day, Cook recorded that he “was now taken ill of the Bilious colick and so Violent as to confine me to my bed, so that the Management of the Ship was left to M^r Cooper my first Officer who conducted her very much to my satisfaction.  It was several days before the most dangerous symptoms of my disorder were removed, during which time M^r Patten the Surgeon was to me, not only a skillful Physician but a tender Nurse and I should ill deserve the care he bestowed on me if I did not make this publick acknowledgement.  When I began to recover, a favourate dog belonging to M^r Forster fell a Sacrifice to my tender Stomack; we had no other fresh meat whatever on board and I could eat of this flesh as well as broth made of it, when I could taste nothing else, thus I received nourishment and strength from food which would have made most people in Europe sick”.  Forster noted this day, “The Cap^t is easier... & the hiccough is not returned... & there are hopes, that he will grow better”. 

On 28 February, Marra wrote, “the captain this day much better, which each might read in the countenance of the other from the highest officer to the meanest boy on board”.  Forster added, “we now go directly for Easter-Island, & every one in the Ship most ardently wishes to see this Island, in hopes of getting a good many refreshments”.

Adventure is in the South Atlantic During February

On 2 February, Furneaux wrote, “South of Cape Horn”.  The land could not be seen as they were well to the south of it, according to their calculations for the ship’s position, and that of the land on their charts.  Adventure passed from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

Three days later, Furneaux had “Very disagreeable unhealthy Weather”.  The next day, “Fresh breezes and thick foggy weather and a NW Swell... Passed several Islands of Ice”.  The following day, “light breezes and thick foggy weather... Passed two Islands of Ice, one of which was upwards of a mile in length”.

On 11 February, Furneaux wrote of, “light breezes and thick foggy weather.  Several Porpoises about the Ship”.  The next day, “fresh gales... split the middle stay sail to pieces, which blew overboard”.  The following day, Bayly “Saw some large Seals along side the ship”.

On 17 February, Furneaux wrote, “Moderate breezes and thick foggy weather.  Some Penguins about the Ship...  Passed an Island of Ice”.  Two days later, Bayly “Saw great flocks of sea Birds & a great number of spotted Porpoises pass by the ship”.

On 21 February, Furneaux wrote, “In hauling down the Jibb in a Squall, the down halter broke by which means the Jibb split & blew in pieces... which blew overboard... gave the Ship’s Company ½ an Allowance of Brandy, they being wet & cold in shortening Sail... Passed several Islands of Ice”.  Four days later, “Fresh gales... Passed several Islands of Ice...  Lost the Log and three Lines”.

On 26 February, Bayly wrote, “This evening proving fair, I observed 3 distances of the Moon from Spica-Virginis to the East of her which gave the Long. of the Ship as 359° 00' E [of Greenwich].  I likewise observed 3 distances of the Moon from Aldebaran to the west of her, which gave the Long of the ship as 358° 34' E...  NB, We have got forward one whole day in our account which we rectify by making this day to-morrow, both the 26th day” of February.  Furneaux commented, “By the Observa­tion... found the Ship to be in the Meridian of Greenwich, and having run 360 degrees, correct our time to that of Greenwich”.  The following day’s entry is also dated 26 February.

On 27 February, Bayly wrote, “Saw the Southern Lights [Aurora australis] but not very strong”.  The next day, “Heavy with snow and sleet.  Pass’d a large Island of Ice”.

After the voyage, Furneaux wrote that during their passage from New Zealand, “On opening some casks of pease and flour, that had been stowed on the coals, we found them very much damaged, and not eatable; so thought it most prudent to make for the Cape of Good Hope”,

Resolution Visits Easter Island

On 1 March, Forster wrote, “The Cap^t is much better, sits up, & eats something, but is very weak, & quite emaciated, & will continue so for a good while, unless we meet with Land, & get some refresh­ments”.  Wales commented, “its scarcely 3 weeks ago we were miserable on acc. of ye cold, we are now wretched with ye heat: the latter is I think less supportable of ye two, as being attended with a sickly appetite, but Salt Beef & pork, without vegetables for 14 weeks running, would probably cure a Glutton, even in England”.

Two days later, Forster saw “a Tropicbird & a Man of Warbird, & some greyish Tern: great many Fish were seen about the Ship, but very deep under Water; a Shark cut the rope net & stole the pork, towing for our Mess”.  The next day, he saw, “a black or brown kind of bird like a Petrel; Lieut Pickersgill [who had already sailed twice around the world in Dolphin and then Endeavour] said this bird is allways seen before Ships fall in with the Land, between the Tropicks in the South Seas”.  According to Wales, “The south-west swell considerably increased, which gives us some hopes of a wind from that quarter.  We have much need of it, for the heat, this calm weather, is almost insupportable”.

On 5 March, Cooper “Saw an Egg Bird.  The Carpenters employ’d [repairing] the Pinnace & painting the Cutter.  Clean’d & Smoak’d between Decks”.

The next day, wrote Forster, “the Surface of the Sea began to curl with a breeze from the SE & soon after we had a fine breeze... after having been becalmed in a manner during 3 days, we had the Satisfaction of seeing our Ship again going through the Water at the rate of 4 knots”.  Two days later, Cooper saw “2 Tropic Birds, 2 Men of War Birds, one Gannet & sev^l other kinds of Birds”.  Forster saw “several Gannets (which Oediddee did not know)”.  This islander, who joined the ship in September 1773 at Ra`iātea in the Society Islands, was also known as Hitihiti or Mahine.  Wales added, “Many Men-of-War and Tropic Birds about the ship.  Passed by a sea snake: it was speckled, black & white, & in every respect like those we used to see at Tonga Tabu and the Society Islands”.  It was a moray eel.

On 9 March, Cook wrote, “Judgeing our selves by observations to be nearly in the Latitude of... Easter Island we steer’d nearly due west meeting with the same sort of Birds as yesterday”.  The next day, Forster wrote, “a fine breeze which set us forward at the rate of 7 knots an hour... we are all in hopes soon to see the Land, which would be no doubt an agreable sight; after being out at Sea during fifteen weeks”.

On 11 March, Smith wrote at 5 am, “Saw Land from the Mast head to the Westward of a Moderate hight”.  According to Forster, “The land could be seen from the deck at ½ hour past 7...  So our hopes are at last accomplished.  Every countenance clears up, at the Expectation of fresh fruit, & fowls”.  Wales was thrilled.  “We shall soon now meet with Enter­tainment both for the Body & Mind”.  Forster added, “We have very little wind & advance scarcely 1½ mile p[er] hour, which is a tantalizing Circumstance for people that have been long out at Sea, & long to set again foot on it... the late autumnal Season misgives me, & I expect but few plants here”. 

On 12 March, Wales wrote, “Saw by the Help of our spying Glasses several very large Statues, or Obelisks; which I take to be the Idols mentioned by the Relators of Rogevein’s Voyage”.  Cook took the ship “within about half a League of the NE point...  We plyed to windward in order to get into the Bay”.  The next morning, “there being no Harbour as we had immag[in]ed, I steer’d round the South point of the Island in order to explore the western side”.  The best anchoring place was “before a small sandy beach where we found 30 and 40 fathoms one mile from the Shore”.  According to Cooper, “the Capt went on shore to inform himself whether any refreshments or water could be procured.  A Canoe came off with a few Bunches of Bananas & some few sweet Potatoes”. 

On 14 March, Cook “landed at the sandy beach where about 100 of the Natives were collected”.  Later that day, “He distributed “among them some Medals and other trifles”.  Later that day, “got on board a few Casks of Water and Traded with the Natives for some of the produce of the island which appeared in no great plenty and the Water so bad as not to be worth carrying on board, and the Ship not in safety determined me to shorten my stay here”.  The next day, “I sent Lieutenants [Richard] Pickers­gill and [John] Edgcumb with a party of Men, accompanied by M^r Forster and several more of the gentlemen, to examine the Country; I was not sufficiently recovered from a fit of illness to make one of the party...  About 7 in the evening the exploaring party returned and the next morning Mr Pickersgill made me” a report which Cook copied into his journal. 

According to Forster, Pickersgill was sent “with a party of Sailors & Marines, to whom Mr Hodges & I & Sparman associated... we were in all 27 Men”.  William Hodges was the ship’s artist, and Anders Sparrman a naturalist.  Forster continued, “We first stood directly across the country under the high hill, till we came to the other Side of the Island [Ovahe Bay], & there we found 7 stone pillars, 4 of which were still standing, & 3 were overturned...  One of the standing ones had lost its hat...  In what manner they contrived these structures in incomprehensible to me, for we saw no tools with them...  The Images represent Men to their waist, the Ears are large & they are about 15 foot high & above 5 foot wide; they are ill shaped & have a large solid bonnet on their head like some of the old Egyptian divinities...  These pillars intimate that the Natives were formerly a more powerfull people, more numerous & better civilized.  These pillars have all names...  We bought some Chickens & sweet Potatoes & began to walk northward along the Isle & Sea”.

According to Pickersgill, this “East shore is all steep clifts and the shore so rocky, which with the great surf I think renders it impossible for a boat to land; here we search’d for water but could find none...  We had many of the Natives went with us a cross the Isthmus and one man constantly kept a head of us carrying a white flag who seem’d to direct the crowd.  From this place we traveled about 3 miles further a long shore, the man still carrying his flag and the Natives flocking round us to about 150 in Number; this part of the Country was very barren, hardly a house or Plantation to be seen”.

Pickersgill continued, “Walking on further we stop’d on a hill to rest”.  According to Forster, they also stopped “to give M^r Hodges an opportunity of drawing some stone-pillars at a distance.  When our people were seated & had laid their bags down, one of the Natives snatched a bag up & ran away with it.  M^r Edgcumb fired a gun with Shot in his back, which caused him to throw down the bag, & to run away; all the people ran away & left us alone”.  Pickersgill continued, “we persued our Journey to a hill from when I saw all the East and North shores on which I could not see either Bays, places for boats to land or signs of Water... we stop’d dined and prepared to return over the hills...  we arrived at the beach all heartily tired about 7 o’Clock having been by my estimation about 20 or 21 miles”.

On 17 March, Cook wrote, we were “Plying off the Island with variable light winds and had a boat and people on Shore tradeing, in the evening they return’d on board when we hoisted the boat in and made Sail nw with the wind at NNE”.  The next day, “After leaving Easter Island I steer’d NWBW and NNW with a fine Easterly gale, Intending to touch next at the Marquesas, If I met with nothing before I got there.  We had not been long at sea before the Bilious disorder made a nother attack upon me, but not so Violent as the former, I believe this second Visit was owing to my exposing and fatiguing my self too much at Easter Island”.  According to Forster, “The wind is very faint, the weather hot, our water bad & brackish; the Captain having staid too long unsheltered a shore in the heat of the day, & heated himself with walking a good way, & eating lard & salt pork plenteously has fallen again into his constipation & bilious complaint.  The greater part of those who went on the Expedition have burst lips & burnet faces, that cause them pain in proportion as the skin goes off”.

On 19 March, Cooper wrote, “Punish’d W^m Wedgeborough Marine with 1 dozen for uncleanness between Decks”.  Three days later, Forster noted, “The Cap^t, M^r Patton & my Serv^t still ill of the bilious disorder”.  That is, James Cook, the surgeon James Patten, and Ernest Scholient. 

On 22 March, Cooper wrote, “The Carpenters painted the Pinnace’s Bottom & chineing the others”.  The next day, “The Carpenter’s paying the large Cutter’s Bottom with M^r Hunt’s Composition”.  Hunt was the Master Builder at Deptford Dockyard.  He had invented a composition to prevent worms from eating into ships’ bottoms.  Three days later, “The Carpenters employ’d... painting the Pinnace & Jolly Boat”.

On 25 March, Forster wrote, “The Cap^t & my Serv^t continue ill”.  The next day, “The Cap^t & my Serv^t are somewhat better, but very weak”.  And the following day, “The Cap^t & my Serv^t a good deal better.  M^r Patton, M^r Wales & others, who were somewhat ill of the same disorder, find themselves much relieved”. 

On 27 March, Cooper wrote, “The Carpenters employ’d painting the Jolly Boat & small Cutter”.  The following day, “The Carpenters employ’d Caulking & paying the Launches Bottom with M^r Hunt’s Composition N^o 2...  Set the Forge up for the Armourer to make hatchets after the form of the stone ones of Otaheite, to trade with the Natives at the Marquesas”.  The next day, “Served slops to the Ships Company”.  Slops were clothes, or material from which to make clothes. 

On 31 March, Cook wrote, “Altered the Course to... West, being then in Lat 9° 24' which I judged to be the Parallel of the Marquesas where as I have before observed I intended to touch in order to settle their situation, which I find different in different Charts”.

Adventure heads to the Cape of Good Hope

On 1 March, Furneaux wrote, “Moderate breezes with thick foggy weather in the first part [of the day], middle and latter Cloudy with Snow at times...  Saw a Fish Hawk [Osprey] and Penguin.  Passed several Islands of Ice”.

After the voyage, Furneaux wrote that “On the 3d of March, being then in the latitude of 54° 4' South, longitude 13° E., which is the latitude of Bouvet’s discovery, and half a degree to the eastward of it, and not seeing the least sign of land, either now or since we have been in this parallel, I gave over looking for it, and hauled away to the northward”.  The French explorer Captain John-Baptiste Charles Bouvet held his ships Aigle and Marie over a period of five days in January 1739 at what he thought to be the tip of Terra Australis Incognita. 

The Admiralty’s instructions to Cook and Furneaux directed them to search for Bouvet’s land, which they had done in December 1772.  The land is an island, nowadays a dependency of Norway, called Bouvetøya or Bouvet Island. 

On 4 March, Furneaux “Serv’d the People a Dram, they being cold & wet in shortening Sail”.  Two days later, he “Gave the Ships Company an ½ allowance of Brandy, they being very wet & cold in shortening sail”.  Two days later, “Passed sev[era]l Islands of Ice.  Saw a large Seal”.  Three days later, “Punish’d Rob^t Harrison [seaman] with 12 Lashes for Insolence”.

On 15 March, Bayly wrote, “This afternoon I observed two sets of distances of the Sun and Moon, which gave the Long^d 17° 0' E, during these the Moon was very faint...  In the Evening I observed 6 distances of the Moon’s farthest Limb from Aldebaran to the East of her which gave the Long^d 16° 39' E, these were very good”.

Adventure at the Cape of Good Hope

On 17 March, “At 5 AM”, Furneaux wrote, “Saw the Land, Table Land bearing East a Distance of 12 or 13 Leagues”.  Two days later, “thick foggy weather [then] clear weather.  Saw the Land.  The Sugar Loaf and Penguin Island ENE.  Standing into the bay.  Came to with the best bower [anchor] in 9 Fathoms & Sandy bottom...  Found riding here Sir Edward Hughes [Commodore] with His Majestys Ships Salisbury and Seahorse, One Dane and several Dutch East Indiamen.  Saluted the Commodore with 13 Guns, he returned 11...  Saluted the fort with 13 Guns, which was returned by an Equal Number”.  The two Navy ships were a fourth rate and a sixth rate, respectively.  They had sailed from England in November 1773.  Hugh Palliser had been captain of Seahorse from 1753 to 1755.  Sir Edward Hughes had been in charge at Plymouth when Resolution and Adventure sailed from there in July 1772. 

On 20 March, Furneaux wrote, “Unbent the sails and struck the yards and Topmasts... Employed cleaning the bread room and picking the Bread for a Survey.  Received Bread, Mutton and Greens”.  That day, Sir Edward Hughes wrote a letter to Lord Sandwich, giving news of Resolution and Adventure. 

The next day, Furneaux continued with refitting the ship and refreshing the men.  He also, “Punished Robert Weaver [seaman] for Drunkeness and Disobedience of Orders”.  The next day, Furneaux “Received an Order from Sir Edward Hughes to supply the Boatswains and Carpenters of His Majesty’s Ships Salisbury & Seahorse with such Stores as I could spare.  Employed getting them up and sending them onboard”.

On 24 March, Furneaux wrote, “Sailed thence for the East Indies, His Majesty’s Ships Salisbury and Seahorse.  Saluted the Commodore with 13 Guns, he returned 11.  Received Onboard Mutton and Greens”.  The next day, “Received Onboard Boat­swains and Carpenter’s Stores, they being in want of several articles”.  Two days later, “anchored here a Danish Ship.  Punished Bonadventure Somerfield (Marine) with a Dozen Lashes for insolence to his Officers”.

On 28 March, Furneaux wrote, “Anchored Here the Valentine East Indiaman, which saluted us with 11 Guns, returned 9”.  The next day, “anchored here a Danish Ship, saluted us with 13 Guns, they returned an equal number”.

Ian Boreham

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 30, volume 47, number 1 (2024).