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.

Tonga – Eua and Tongatapu

On 1 October, 1773, Captain Cook wrote in his journal, “at 2 pm Saw the Island of Middleburg bearing WSW”, which, wrote Joseph Gilbert, Master of Resolution, was “Discover’d by the Dutch in 1643”.  The island was Eua, which was named Middelburg Island by Abel Tasman after the Dutch city of Middelburg, Zeeland.  

The next day, Cook “rainged the SW side of the Island at the distance of half a mile from shore on which the Sea broke with great [violence] as to leave us no hopes of finding Anchorage this continuing till we came to the most western point of the Island...  [where he found] a convenient place”, which he called English Road.  “Soon after we had come to an Anchor, I went a shore with Captain Furneaux and some of the officers and gentlemen... we were welcomed a shore by acclamations from an immence crowd of Men and Women not one of which had so much as a stick in their hands...  In the evening we all returned aboard every one highly dilighted with his little excursion and the friendly behaver of the Natives who seem’d to [vie] with each other in doing what they thought would give us pleasure”.

Johann Reinhold Forster wrote>, “There were birds with a sweet Note in the Trees, which were Chiefly very large Shaddocks, whose Fruit were to us a delicious refreshment, & the Flowers spread a most admirable perfume all around”.  The Pummelo (Citrus maxima).  “Having collected several plants & bought a few Curiosities we went on board & ate our Dinner...  I went with Mr Hodges & my Servant up the hills to see the Country”.  William Hodges was the artist.  Ernest Scholient was the servant, rarely named by anyone in their journals.

Forster wrote of the islanders, “The firing of the guns caused neither fear nor admiration; & the killing of birds by Guns, excited no Curiosity or Admiration.  They are curteous & friendly & kiss your hand & hug you to excess”.

On 3 October, “Early in the morning while the Sloops were getting under sail”, Cook “went a shore with Captain Furneaux and M^r Forster”.  According to Forster, they “gave the Chief various garden Seeds, & especially Garlick & Kernels of large Sweet Oranges from the Cape [of Good Hope]...  I brought from the Shore a very fine live Parrot off.  It is of a fine lively green, the wing & tailfeathers the brightest blue, the head & breast of a purple Chestnut, & the belly very deep purple: the feet & bill black, the tip of both mandibles yellow, the Iris black.  It eats Bananas, is tame & lively, seems to be young & may perhaps be carried to England alive”.  The Red Shining-Parrot (Prosopeia tabuensis tabuensis). > It was painted by Forster’s son, George. 

Furneaux, “carried off two of the Natives, who appeared to be very uneasy ’till we came near Amsterdam, when they jumped over Board, & were pick’d up the Canoes belonging to that Island”.  Tasman had named the island because of its abundance of supplies.  It was Tongatapu, which lies about 10 miles west of Eua.  Furneaux continued, “This Island is not so high as Middleburgh, but is laid out in very pleasant walks & plantations, so that it appears one continual Garden”.

Cook anchored “with the Coasting Anchor and Cable out to sea to prevent the Ship from tailing ashore in case of a shift of wind or a Calm... we had a great number of the Islanders aboard and about the sloops... bringing little else with them but Cloth and other curiosities, things which I did not come here for and for which the Seamen only bartered away their clothes.  In order to put a stop to this and to obtain the refreshments we wanted, I gave orders that no Curiosities should be purchassed”.

The next morning, Isaac Smith, a master’s mate in Resolution, wrote, “a great Number of the Natives about the Ship trading with us for Nails, Beads, &c.  Stop’d serving Bread to ye Ship’s Company”.  William Wales, astronomer in the ship, recorded “an odd Circumstance happened at my landing.  At least 4 or 500 of the Natives were assembled at the landing place, and as the boat could not come near the shore for want of Water sufficiently deep, I pulled of my Shoes &c to walk through, and when I got on dry ground put them down betwixt my legs to put on again, but they were instantly snatched away by a Person behind me.  I turned round & just saw him mixing with the Crowd but it was in vain for me to attempt following him bare-footed over such sharp coral rocks as the shores are here composed off; and my situation and Attitude may be supposed ludicrous enough”.  With Cook’s aid and a chief’s help his shoes were retrieved. 

Forster “bought a most beautiful green Parrokeet with a red throat & cheeks & blue Crown of the head; under the belly is a red spot”.  The Blue-crowned Lorikeet (Vini australis).  He continued “I saw also a beautiful bat... and got it for a small Nail.  We shot a yellowish Wattlebird with a bent bill, a quite white Tern & a black & white Flycatcher, all quite new”.  They were the Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio carunculata carunculata), White Tern (Gygis alba candida) and Polynesian Triller (Lalage maculosa tabuensis). 

On 5 October, Cook “sent the Pinnace with a petty officer to trade with the People, she soon return’d before she was quite loaded, the officer informed me that the natives were very troublesome and were for takeing the oars and every thing out of the boat, the day before they had stolen the grapling [hook] whilest she was riding by it and carried it off undiscovered, having first dived and unbent the rope from it.  From this report I judged it necessary to have a guard on shore to protect the Boats and people whose business made it necessary for them to be there and accordingly sent Lieutenant Edgcomb with the Marines for that”.  John Edgcumbe was Second Lieutenant of the Marines in Resolution.  Wales recorded that one islander “was discovered coming out at the scuttle of the Masters Cabbin, out of which he had taken his and the Ship’s Log books, his Daily assistant, Nautical Almanack & some other Books”.  After being fired at “they threw the books overboard & all jumped after them.  The Books were all picked up, & the Canoe filled & sunk along side”.  Gilbert, the Master, did not put this incident in his log. 

“The different tradeing parties”, wrote Cook, “were so successfull to day as to procure for both Sloops a tollerable supply of refreshments in concequence of which I gave the next morning every one leave to purchass what curiosities and other things they pleased”.

On 6 October, Forster wrote “the Cap^ts went early a shore, I stood on board to bring plants aside & to describe several things, & to draw others.  George had been the whole day before employed in drawing onboard”. 

Wales “Went again on shore to look after the Tyde and found that it was lowwater, a little before 6 0'clock in the Evening; and that the fall was nearly the same as the rise.  The shore being flat, and the water in consequence thereof ebbing out a long way; I could think of no other Method of finding the rise & fall but by setting up a Pole at the low water mark and my level at the high water Mark, and after adjusting it very car[e]fully taking the difference of the Altitudes of the Center of the Telescope & the part of the pole which was cut by the horizontall wire”. 

The next morning, “the Cap^tn & I”, wrote Forster, “went early ashore... We soon after returned on board, where we breakfasted together, whilst pre­parations were made to weigh the Anchor”.  Smith commented, “In heaving up the Coasting Anchor the Cable broke being but by the Rocks there being no Buoy on the Anchor and in 40 f[atho]m Water.  Lost it with half a Cable”.

As the ships departed, “All hands” in Resolution, wrote Forster, “were busy, for the temporary Stage on the Quarterdeck, where our Bananas were fixed to, gave way, & another, must be built”.  According to Cook, “The Supplies we got at this Island were about 150 Pigs, double that number of fowls, Bananas and Cocoanutts as many as we could dis­pence with and a few yams and had we stayed longer we might no dought have got a great deal more”.

Cook continued, “we knew but little of their language notwithstanding many words are exactly the same as at Otaheite, others nearly so, but their are others again which differ very much and these occured so often that even the two Islanders we had on board could not understand a single sentance they spoke... M^r Forster who is well acquainted with Languages is of opinion that the difference is so very little that it may without any impropriety be said to be the same, this is no more than confirmable to what Tupia allways told us, which was that the same language was spoke in all the isles”.

Southward to New Zealand

On 8 October, Cook wrote, “we stretched to the Southward with a gentle gale at SEBE, it being my intention to make the best of my way to New Zealand and there take in Wood and Water and then proceed to the South” to search for the Southern Continent.  Three days later, Cooper wrote “About ½ past 6 this Morning we pass’d the Tropic of Capricorn [for] the 3^rd time”.  The first time was on 24 September, 1772, as the ships were heading south towards Cape Town.  The second time was on 2 August, 1773, as the ships were sailing from New Zealand to Tahiti.

On 12 October, 1773, Forster wrote, “we saw the first Albatross, whom I never had observed between the Tropics, neither in the Atlantic nor in the Pacific Ocean: but from the Tropics to the [southern] Polar circle they were every where common”.  Four days later, Furneaux “Read the Articles of War to the Ship’s Company.  Punished Jn^o Cronean Seaman with 12 lashes for striking his superior officer...  At 10 PM fired a Gun as Signal to the Resolution”.

As the ships sailed south, gales meant they were sometimes unable to keep together or see each other, especially overnight. 

On 16 October, Furneaux wrote, “At 10 PM fired a Gun as Signal to the Resolution”.  At the same time, Cooper in Resolution recorded, “Burnt a false fire”.  At 11 pm, “Burnt another” then another “neither of which the Adventure answer’d”.  At midnight, “Saw Her light at some distance astern”.

Two days later, Furneaux wrote, “At 11 PM fired a Gun as Signal to the Resolution – no answer, burnt a false fire and [at] ½ past fired another Gun.  At 1 [AM] fired another, at 3 [AM] fired another, the last was answered.  At 6 AM saw her ahead”.  For the same morning, Cooper’s account was “dark cloudy W[eathe]r.  [At] ¼ before 1 [am] saw the flash & heard the report of a Gun, which we answered.  [At] ¼ past one saw another flash, which we answered”.  At 3 am, “The Adventure fired another Gun which we answered”.  At 8 am, “Got up the spare Sails to Air, found some greatly damag’d by Mildew & others by the Rats”.

The food they had obtained at the Society Islands served the men well.  On 20 October, Cooper wrote, “This is the last day of serving the people Fresh Pork, which they have had every day since the 2^d of September”.

The next morning at 5 am, Cooper, “Saw the Land from NW to SWbW.  Made the sign^l to the Adven­ture, which she answered”.  They had arrived at Hawke’s Bay, North Island, New Zealand.  Cook, “stretched in for the land…  I was desirous of having some communication with the Inhabitants of this Country as far north as possible in order to give them some Hogs, Fowls, Seeds, roots &c^a”.  No one came to meet them, so the ships sailed south passing Cape Kidnappers.  The next morning, wrote Cooper, “Bro[ugh]t too.  Came on board 3 Canoes full of Natives, the Captain gave the Chief some Cocks & Hens & Sow & Boar Pigs, Nails, Red Baize & other presents”.  Cook added, “It was evident that these people had not forgot the Endeavour being on their Coast for the first words they said to us was we are affraid of the guns”. 

The Ships Part Company

The ships sailed further south in gales and squally weather.  On 22 October, the ships passed Cape Turnagain.  Cook wrote, “Adventure being too far to leeward to distinguish any Signal was separated from us”.  The next day, Cooper noted, “Punish’d Wm Monk & Philip Brotherson Marines with 6 lashes for neglect of duty”.  William Monk was a Private, and Philip Brotherson was the Drummer. 

The gales continued, and Adventure re-appeared on 24 October.  According to James Burney, second Lieutenant in Adventure, “From this time we had a great deal of Blowing Weather & almost continual foul winds...  Parted from the Resolution the Night of the 26^th but joind her again on the 28^th.  The 29^th at Night we lost Sight of her the 3^d Time.  After this we never had the good fortune to meet her again”.

By 30 October, Resolution had been driven so far south and west that she was “under the Snowey mountains” of the Kaikoura range on the South Island.  Cook headed to the agreed rendezvous point of Queen Charlotte Sound.  Forster commented, “This is the first night out of 10 that I slept comfortably, the Ship now going steady & easy, which has not been the case all the stormy weather”. 

Adventure had been blown eastward by the gales, so that, wrote Furneaux, “Cape Palliser”, North Island, was “NWBW½N, 7 or 8 Leagues” from the ship.

Resolution is Alone During November

On 1 November, Cook “entered the [Cook] Straits with a fresh gale at South so we thought of nothing but reaching Queen Charlottes Sound the next flood tide.  Vaine were our expectations”.  The next day “we discovered a new inlet which had all the appearence of a good Harbour”.  However, “the Tide turned against us and obliged us to anchor”, and so Resolution never entered Wellington Harbour.  Cook thought Furneaux was probably already at the Sound, so the next day, he “ran up to Ship Cove where we moored…  We did not find the Adventure as I expected.  We had no sooner anchored than several of the Natives made us a Viset, among whom were some that I knew when I was here in the Endeavour”. 

Cooper, “hoisted out the Boats & unbent the Sails, most of them being Split & wanting repair & the Running Rigging in general broke & not service­able”.  “In the Afternoon”, wrote Wales, “I went with Cap^t Cook to see if we could not find a place which would be tolerably convenient for my Observatory, and also for the People who were to be employed on various points of Duty on Shore, as we should thereby be a mutual protection to each other, and pitched on the Beach at the bottom of the Cove, where I observed before [in May]”.  The next morning, “I got the Observatory &c on the Shore and began to put it up”.  In the afternoon he “set up the Astronomical and Assistant Clocks: fixed up a stand for the Quad^t and Adjusted it ready for Observation”.

On 4 November, Charles Clerke, Second Lieu­tenant in Resolution, wrote, “some of the Natives brought us onboard great plenty of Fish which they barter’d for any trifle or bauble whatever, but they were most attach’d [to] the white Cloath we got at the Society Isles half a yard of which wou’d purchase a very excellent dish of fish”.  Gilbert “open’d some of the Bread Butts and found the bread much damaged”.  Forster wrote, “We went all ashore in the Afternoon, & took a walk into the woods near the Astronomers tent, we climbed up on the sides of a high hill, & got several new plants; the flowers were several times to be fetched from immensely high trees which made it very difficult.  The Native of Bolabola [whose name was Hitihiti] went with M^r Patton [James Patten, the surgeon] & shot a fine green new Cuckow with a white belly, barred transversally with green [the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus lucidus], he killed the bird, though it was the first time he had fired a gun at an object”.  The next morning, “we drew & described birds & plants & brought our collected plants overside”.

On 6 November, Cooper “Sent the Copper Oven on shore & fix’d it ready for baking the damaged Bread”.  The next day, Gilbert wrote, “People em­ployed picking out the bad bread from the good to be baked over again.  A quantity of it intirely rotten”.  And the next day, Cooper recorded, “Employ’d about the Bread, Wooding & Brewing &c^a”.

On 8 November, Forster wrote, “George & M^r Sparrman [Anders Sparrman, a naturalist] went out to Indian Cove [at the southern end of Ship Cove] & George shot two Curlews & discovered a new Dracaena in flower, but they were not able to get it for want of a hatchet”.  The next morning, “I went with M^r Sparrman & my son to the Indian cove, where we got the Dracaena, having taken a hatchet with us.  This Dracaena is a kind of tree about 15 or 20 feet high: the Stem was rough & naked, the branches are soft & spungy…  The flowers are about 2 feet long”.  It was the Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis).  They “went over to the Isle Motuara & we began to mount the hill, which we did after a great deal of fatigue…  In going down from the pole, where the name of the Endeavour & of the Adventure were cut in, we met with two new plants & took specimens of both with us”.  The next day, “We were employed in describ­ing & drawing & bringing overside the plants”.

On 12 November, Cook finished “over hauling the bread [4292] pounds of which we found Mouldy and rotten and totally unfit for me to eat [3000] pounds more that few would eat”.  The next day, Cooper wrote, “Took on board 2 Launch loads of Shingle Ballast containing about 9 Tuns”.  Cook gave the reason.  “Great part of our Coals being expended we took into the Main hold two launch loads of ballast after taking out all the Coals”.

On 14 November, Cook wrote, “had a plentifull supply of fish from the Natives, who remained with us the most part of the day”.  That evening, Forster “went to the Astronomers Observatory & set several Telescopes up, in order to observe the Emersion of one of Jupiters Satellites [i.e., moons].  We saw the Planet & three of its Satellites very finely, each in a Telescope made by different Artists.  Cap^t Cooks was made by Watkins; M^r Wales observed by Dollands achromatic Telescope, M^r Smith by Birds Reflector & I by Ramsdens achromatic Telescope”.

The next day, Cooper wrote, “Got on board all our Baked Bread & stacked it in the Bread Room”.  Cook “went in the Pinnace over to the East Bay, accompanied by some of the officers and gentlemen; as soon as we landed we went upon one of the hills in order to take a view of the Straits, to see if we could discover any thing of the Adventure, we had s fatiguing walk to little purpose for when we got to the top of the hill we found the Eastern horizon so foggy that we could not see above two or three miles…  The hill we were upon is the same as I was upon in [January] 1770 on which we then built a tower of Stones which was now leveled to the very ground, done no doubt by the Natives with a view of finding some thing hid in it”.

On 22 November, Cook wrote, “Having now got the principal part of the Sloop caulked, the rigging over hauled and n other respects in a condition for Sea, I ordered the tents to be struck and everything to be got on board”.  Cooper recorded, “Punish’d Rich^d Lee, Seaman, 1 dozen for Robbing the Natives”.  According to Gilbert, the punishment was “for neglect of duty”.  According to Smith, it was for “Stealing Some of the Natives things on Shore”.  Forster “saw a whole Fleet of Canoes arrive from the North, who sold Several Curiosities, but there were among them 2 Men who had been before along Side the Ship & they soon taught these newcomers to ask extravagant prices for their trifles, nor would they part with any thing, unless they got a piece [of] red cloth for it & as no body but the Cap^t had any; he got all the Curiosities that day”.

On 25 November, Cooper wrote, “At ½ past 3 AM Got under weigh & stood out of the Cove for the Hippa Island”.  However, wrote Smith, “at 7 falling Calm Anchord between Long & Motuara Islands”.  When the ship was able to sail again, she “stood to the Northern Island in search of the Adventure”.  Two days later, Cook wrote, “The morning before we sailed I wrote a memorandum seting forth the time we arrived last here, the day we sailed, the rout I intended to take & such other information as I thought necessary for Captain Furneaux to know and buried it in a bottle under the root of a tree in the garden in the bottom of the Cove in such a manner that it must be found by any European who may put into the Cove”.

On 26 November, Cooper wrote, “Standing in with the shore to endeavour to find whether the Adventure has got into any of the Bays or Harbours on this part of the Land”.  Later that day, as the ship passed Cape Palliser, he continued, “Not having been lucky enough to have discover’d our Consort or any reason to suppose her being hereabouts therefore concluded a further search unnecessary, we bore away”.

Adventure is Alone During November

On 4 November, Furneaux was “in shore near Cape Pallisser and was visited by a number of the Natives in their Canoes with a great quantity of Cray fish, which we bought of them for nails and Otaheite Cloath; the next day it blew hard from WNW which again blew us off the Coast and obliged us to bring too for two days, during which time it blew one continual gale of wind with very heavy squalls of sleet, by this time our Decks were very leaky, the peoples beds and bedding wet, several of our people complaining of Colds, that we began to dispair of ever geting into Charlotte’s Sound or joining the Resolution”.  Burney added, “from our being so often baffled in trying to get round Cape Pallisser our seamen new Christend it, by the Significant Name of Cape Turn and be damnd”.

On 6 November, Furneaux decided to head north “for some bay to compleat our wood and water being great want of both, having been at the allowance of one quart of water for some days past and not above six or seven days” of both left.  Three days later, Adventure arrived at Tolaga Bay, where Cook had called for wood and water in October 1769.  

On 10 November, Burney wrote, “Emp^d Wooding and Watering”.  The next day, “in the Forenoon hove up our Anchors & left the Bay”.  However, the next day, “the wind coming foul & blowing fresh, put back & anchord in Tolaga Bay again”.  Even so, the following day, “we rode out a gale of Wind from ESE which threw such a Swell into the Bay that no Boat could get onshore till… at night”.  Furneaux, “began to fear we should never join the Resolution, who we had reason to believe was in [Queen] Charlotte’s Sound”.

On 15 November, William Bayly, the astronomer, “went on shore again with the Surgeon [Thomas Andrews] & walked a few miles into the Country where we found here & there a few huts.  The Indians behaved very friendly.  They have small plantations of sweet potatoes near their houses but they run long & small in general.  I saw plantations of something that resembles Pompion Plants.  They were planted in the same order the Gardeners plant Cucumbers in holes (in England).  The plants were about two Inches above ground & out in rough leaf.  They first set fire to the Wood & then cut it off about knee high & then turn the earth and cleanse it with sticks which serve instead of spades.  During our ramble I saw Wood Pigeons, Parroquets, Grey Parrots, Poey Birds, & Quails & vast variety of singing Birds but no animal great or small or any fruit Trees of any kind whatever”.

On 16 November, Burney wrote that during the last few days, “we got more Wood & Water on board & put the Ship in tolerable good Order... [we] were very near having a quarrel with the Natives ashore about a Gallon Cagg of Brandy which they stole & which I had sent for from the Ship for the use of the Wooders & Waterers.  Jack Row would fain have had me seizd one or two of the Zealanders & kept them in our Boat till the Liquor was restored; this I thought dangerous as the Zealanders were too numerous, and all our Empty casks ashore; if Sailors won’t take care of their Grogg, they deserve to lose it”.  John Rowe was master’s mate. 

Adventure sailed south.  According to Bayly, on 19 November, “Had strong gales… accompanied with a great Sea.  We continued standing off & on the Land, sometimes in sight of it & sometimes not”.  Ten days later, “the wind came round to S & S b. E with moderate breezes.  We made sail into the [Cook] Straits”.

On 30 November, Burney recorded, “we Ancord in Ship Cove Charlotte Sound...  On coming in we were greatly disappointed at not finding the Resolution here.  As soon as the Ship was Secured a Boat was sent to the Watering place; in our garden Stood a Large Tank of Wood on the Top of which was carved LOOK UNDERNEATH; we... found buried in a Bottle under the Log a Letter of which the following is a Copy”.

Queen Charlotte Sound New Zealand
Nov^br 24th 1773

His Britannic Majesty’s Sloop, Resolution, Captain Cook arrived last in this port on the 3^d Inst^t and Saild again on the date hereof.  Captⁿ Cook intended to spend a few days in the East Entrance of the Straits looking for the Adventure Captⁿ Furneaux, who he parted company with in the Night of the 29^th of last Month, afterwards he will proceed to the South and Eastward.
As Captain Cook has not the least hopes of meeting with Captⁿ Furneaux he will not take upon him to name any place for a Rendezvous.  he however thinks of retiring to Easter Island in Lat^de 27..06 S^o & Long^de 100°..00' West of Greenwich, about the latter end of next March; it is even probable that he may go to Otaheite or one of the Society Isles; but this will depend so much on Circumstances, that nothing with any degree of certainty can be determined upon.

James Cook

Burney continued, “Omy [Omai] present at digging for Captⁿ Cooks Letter, his disbelief & surprize afterwards on finding it, determined to learn to write”.

Resolution is Alone During December

On 6 December, Forster wrote, “Our Longitude is as near as possible 180° East of London, & as our Ship goes finely through the water we shall in a few hours be at the Antipodes of London in 51° 33' Southerly Latitude.  A place w[h]ere no other Ship has ever been since the Creation.  And we may justly call our Expedition one of the most curious, & which no Nation ever before attempted”. 

On 12 December, Cooper wrote, “Squally with Showers of Hail & very Cold.  The water in the Cask on Deck Froze over”.  Forster noted, “At 8 o’clock in the morning the Thermometer on deck at 31½°, in my Cabin at 38°.  In M^r Patton’s the Surgeon’s cabin, who had taken uncommon pains to line his cabin everywhere with Mats, the Thermometer was at 55°.  In the Cap^ts Cabin, where a Fire in a Stove was kept at 53°”.  Two days later, “We have no night & at 12 o’clock midnight it is so light, that one might read”.

On 15 December, Cooper wrote, “Fresh gales & Cloudy with Snow.  We only just weather’d a large Island office at the dist^ce of less than the Ships length which good fortune only sav’d us from inevitable destruction”.  

On 18 December, Cooper wrote, “Very Cold Weather.  The Rigging all covered with Ice & great flakes of it falling off upon Deck”.  Two days later, “A Little past 6 [pm] We Cross’d the Antarctic Circle, the 3^d time”.  Three days later, “Wore Ship, Saw sev^l Islands of Ice & a great deal of loose Ice, we had only just room to wear to prevent being upon a very large Island which we could not discern untill within a Ships length” of it.  Cooper wrote, “Punished Mich^l Flinn Seaman 1 dozen [lashes] for disobedience & neglect of Duty”.  According to Gilbert, it was for “disobedience to Command”.

On 24 December, Cook wrote, “Our ropes were like wire, Sails like board or plates of Metal... the cold so intense as hardly to be endured, the whole Sea in a manner covered with ice, a hard gale and a thick fog: under all these unfavourable circum­stances it was natural for me to think of returning more to the North”.  The next day at 7 am, Cooper wrote, “53 Islands of Ice in sight”, and at noon “Saw 90 Islands of Ice from the Mast head”.  And at 4 pm, “97 Islands of Ice insight”.

It being Christmas Day, Forster wrote, “We prepare every thing to entertain the Gentlemen of the Gunroom, the Mates & several others at our Table.  The weather easy & an absolute dead calm”.  Next day, Cooper wrote at 8 am, “Counted from the Masthead 238 Islands of Ice”.  At noon, “Counted 187 Islands of Ice”.  However, two days later, “No Islands in sight”.

As the year ended on 31 December, Cooper wrote, “Got up all the Sails to Air out of the Bread Room & found many of them very much Rat Eaten”.

Adventure is Alone During December

On 1 December, Burney wrote, “I was sent on­shore with the Tent, Waterers, Coopers—one of the Mates (Old Lanyon), the Surgeons Mate & 3 Sick men”.  William Lanyon and John Kent.  Bayly “went on shore with Capt Furnx to look for a proper place for my Obsy & returned on board at Noon...  This day had 3 or 4 Canoes along side with fish &c”. 

The next day, Furneaux “got on Board a Launch load of Ballast & put it down the Main hold abreast of the Pump well”.  Burney “found most of our Casks of Bread greatly damaged... [we] were obliged to throw a great deal away and to get the rest on Shore with our oven to bake over again—imagine the Resolutions Bread must have been in the same condition for we see their oven has been set up and a good deal of bread dust lying by the place...  The Zealanders come down to the Ship every day”. 

On 11 December, Furneaux wrote, “Employ’d getting on board Wood and Water & overhauling the rigging”.  Burney added, “finish baking the Bread & got it all on board much mended”.  The next day, Furneaux “Punish’d Thomas Hill Seaman w^th 12 Lashes for Insolence”.  Burney wrote, “Kemp, Rowe, Omy & myself in the Great Cutter—Narrow Escape there”.  Neither Burney, nor First Lieutenant Arthur Kempe, nor Midshipman John Rowe, nor Omai wrote about this incident.

On 15 December, Furneaux wrote, “Punished Jn^o Cronean with 12 lashes for Insolence, Disobedience of Orders”.  The next day, Burney wrote, “The Astronomer struck his Tent and went on board with his instruments”. 

On 17 December, Furneaux “sent the Cutter up the Sound to get wild Greens for the Ship’s Company with particular orders to the Officer of the Boat to be on Board by 3 o’clock in the Afternoon”.  According to Bayly “our great cutter was sent... to a place called Grass Cove (it being the place where Capt. Cook usually cut grass for his Sheep)”. 

The next day, Burney wrote, “The Cutter not returning we began to imagine some accident had happened—accordingly the Launch was hoisted out”.  Furneaux sent “the 2^nd Lieut [Burney] in her manned & Armed in Search of the Cutter & the people...  At 11 PM, our Launch returned to the Ship having found some remains of the people that were sent in the Cutter, to get Vegetables, who were all murdered & the greatest part of them eat by the Natives”

On 18 December, Bayly wrote, “People lost: Mr John Rowe, Mate, & Acting Lieutenant; Thos Woodhouse, Midshipman; Frans Murphy, Quarter­master & Cockswain of the Boat; Thos Hill, John Cavenor, Mich’l Bell, Will’m Milton, John Jones, Wm. Facy, Seamen; James Sevilly the Capt’s Black serv’t or steward”.

On 22 December, Burney wrote, “we had a hard Gale of Wind with most violent Squalls from every Quarter... in the Afternoon we hove our Anchor up & came to sail... and at ½ past 3 got out of [Queen] Charlotte Sound & stood through Cooks Straits”. 

On 27 December, Furneaux wrote, “Punished J^no Cronean for Drunkenness & Theft with 12 lashes”.

On 31 December, Furneaux wrote, “A great many Seals and Penguins round the Ship”.

Ian Boreham

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 29, volume 46, number 4 (2023).