No less than forty thousand Negroes are annually imported for this purpose, on the king of Portugal's account; and the English were credibly informed, that, in the year 1766, this number fell so short, that twenty thousand more were drafted from the town of Rio.
From Rio de Janeiro, Lieutenant Cook pursued his voyage, and, on the 14th of January, 1769, entered the Strait of Le Maire, at which time the tide drove the ship out with so much violence, and raised such a sea off Cape St.Diego, that she frequently pitched, so that the bowsprit was under water.

On the next day, the lieutenant anchored, first before a small cove, which was understood to be Port Maurice, and afterward in the Bay of Good Success.

While the Endeavour was in this station, happened the memorable adventure of Mr.Banks, Dr.
Solander, Mr.Monkhouse the surgeon, and Mr.Green the astronomer, together with their attendants and servants, and two seamen, in ascending a mountain to search for plants.

In this expedition they were all of them exposed to the utmost extremity of danger and of cold; Dr.Solander was seized with a torpor which had nearly proved fatal to his life; and two black servants actually died.

When the gentlemen had, at length, on the second day of their adventure, gotten back to the ship, they congratulated each other on their safety, with a joy that can only be felt by those who have experienced equal perils; and Mr.Cook was relieved from a very painful anxiety.