gging of the _Endeavour_ were rotten, and she
leaked considerably, she ultimately reached the Downs on the 12th of
June.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

CAPTAIN COOK'S SECOND VOYAGE--A.D. 1772.

Supposed great southern land--Exploring expedition formed--Captain Cook
appointed commander--Equipment of the _Resolution_ and _Adventure_--Sail
from Plymouth--Reported discovery by the French--Steer south--Land-like
appearance of the ice--Intense cold--Separation of the ships--Icebergs--
Sail from the Antarctic regions for New Zealand--Reach Dusky Bay--Health
of the crew--Intercourse with the natives--Visit the ship--Garden
planted--Live stock left--Sail for Queen Charlotte's Sound--Fall in with
the _Adventure_--Traffic with the natives--Voyage continued--Scurvy on
board Captain Furneaux's ship--Sail for Otaheite--Nearly on a reef--
Natives visit the ship--Propensity to steal--Treatment--Interview with
the King--Sail for Matavia Bay--Sail for Huaheine--Behaviour of the
chief--A native is taken on board--Leave the Society Islands--Steer for
Middleburg and Amsterdam--Reception--Description of the country--Object
of the voyage continued--Quantities of ice--Illness of the commander--
Easter Island--Ancient monuments--Sail for the Marquesas--Anchor at
Nombre de Dios--The Indians come on board--A savage killed--Return to
Otaheite--Native expedition against Eimeo--Voyage continued--Savage
Island--The Tonga group--At Erromongo--Quarrel with the natives--Tamia--
Native cultivation--A new island discovered--Reception by the natives--
New Caledonia--Norfolk Island--News of the _Adventure_--Reach Christmas
Sound--The natives--Sandwich Land--Vain search for Cape Circumcision--
Steer for the Cape of Good Hope--News of an accident which befell the
_Adventure_--Sail for England--Results of the voyage.

Before the return of Captain Cook to England it was supposed that New
Guinea, New Holland, and New Zealand formed one great southern land,
denominated _Terra Australis Incognita_. Though he had proved that
these were islands, it was still supposed that there existed a great
southern land, which had been seen by a French officer, Captain Bouvet,
in 1739.

To determine whether such a land did exist, it was resolved to send out
another expedition, the command of which was offered to Captain Cook.
He gladly accepted it, and chose two vessels--the _Resolution_, of four
hundred and sixty-two tons, on board of which he sailed, and the
_Adventure_, of