Captain Cook's Journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark "Endeavour" 1768-71. A Literal Transcription of the Original MSS. with Notes and Introduction, edited by Captain W.J.L. Wharton, R.N., F.R.S. Hydrographer of the Admiralty, 1893. Illustrated by Maps and Facsimiles. The first published account of perhaps the most celebrated and, certainly to the English nation, the most momentous voyage of discovery that has ever taken place -- for it practically gave birth to the great Australasian Colonies -- in the very words of its great leader, Captain James Cook. To have risen absolutely from the ranks, as he had, was a great deal, but to be chosen as a master, to command a ship, and undertake a voyage of this importance, was a most exceptional occurrence. His determination that nothing should stop the main object of the expedition; his resource in every difficulty and danger; that caused, and rightly caused, him to be hailed as a born leader of such expeditions. He did more, incomparably more, than any other navigator to discover new lands. This was only accomplished by dint of hard work; and yet his men suffered less than in any ships, British or foreign, or similar expeditions. His intelligence is remarkably shown in his greatest triumph, the suppression of scurvy, and his character likewise in his humane treatment of natives, among whom he often speedily made friends, and fast friends too. Cook was in addition a born surveyor. Before his day charts were of the crudest description, and he must have somehow acquired a considerable knowledge of trigonometry, and possessed an intuitive faculty for practically applying it, to enable him to originate, as it may truly be said he did, the art of modern marine surveying. The completeness and accuracy of his accounts and charts are no less than remarkable. ( It must be understood, that although this book is styled CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL, he was on this voyage only a Lieutenant in Command, and therefore only Captain by courtesy.)
