[Captain Cook’s Journal During the First Voyage Round the World by James Cook]@TWC D-Link book
Captain Cook’s Journal During the First Voyage Round the World

PREFACE
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Man after man succumbed, and before half the distance to Capetown was traversed twenty-two more were carried off.

Green, the astronomer, two more of Banks' staff, two midshipmen, the boatswain and carpenter were among the number.

The crew was more than decimated.
The ship touched at the Cape, and war with France being expected, the Endeavour joined the East India convoy, under H.M.S.Portland, at St.
Helena.

The heavy-sailing, collier-built craft was not, however, when the ships had crossed the line and got upon a wind, able to keep up with them, and she once more found herself alone on her way.
Two more officers, the First Lieutenant, Mr.Hicks, and the Master, Mr.
Molineux, died after leaving the Cape, but not of dysentery, and the ship finally reached England on June 12th, 1771.
Ninety-four persons left England in the Endeavour, of whom fifty-four returned.

Thirty-eight died on the voyage, out of which number thirty-one died after reaching Batavia, most of them from fever and dysentery contracted at that place.
After paying off in August 1771, the Endeavour was sold in 1775, and for many years sailed as a collier in the North Sea.
This voyage gave a new impetus to discovery, and the immediate thought was to resume it, under this heaven-born leader.
Cook was given little leisure, as it was nearly at once decided to send him out again, and he was appointed to command the Resolution on November 28th, 1771, the interval having been occupied in considering what ships should be employed.
Cook's experience of the qualities of the Endeavour caused him to uphold the selection of similar vessels, for there were to be two, and the Resolution and Adventure, of 462 and 336 tons respectively, both Whitby built colliers, were bought for the voyage.


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