at last
compelled to proceed. Here numerous whales were seen, and flocks of
antarctic petrels. While two of the boats were engaged in collecting
loose ice off an iceberg, to melt for water, it was seen to lean over
until it completely turned bottom up, though it thus lost neither in
height nor size. The boats providentially escaped. By the middle of
March, the antarctic summer being over, Captain Cook shaped a course for
New Zealand, where he intended to recruit his crew and refit the ship.
On the 26th he entered Dusky Bay in the middle island, having sailed
over nearly ten thousand miles without having once sighted land. His
crew had been kept in excellent health by the anti-scorbutic provisions
on which they were fed, and by the frequent airing of the ship by fires.
A snug harbour having been found, the ship was warped into it, and
places forthwith cleared in which the observatories, forge, and the
tents were set up. By the suggestion of Captain Cook, wholesome beer
was brewed from the leaves of a tree resembling the American black
spruce; indeed, he at all times attended to the most minute points
calculated to maintain the health of his people.

A few families of natives only were met with. One of these having taken
up their quarters near the watering-place, soon became intimate. They
looked with perfect indifference on the trinkets offered them, but
evidently set a high value on hatchets and spike nails.

The head of the family and his daughter paid a visit to the ship.
Before stepping on board, however, he presented a couple of talc
hatchets to the captain and Mr Foster, and the girl gave one to Mr
Hodges. He also waved a green branch, with which he struck the ship,
and made a speech before coming on board.

On a shooting expedition another party of natives was met with, the
chief of whom approached with a plant in his hand, one end of which he
presented to the captain, while he himself held the other. After making
a speech, he took off his cloak, which he placed on Cook's shoulders.
After this he and his companions attended the English to the boat, and
assisted in launching her, and seemed much inclined to carry off
anything they could lay hands on.

Captain Cook, according to his universal plan, here left five geese in a
retired cove, hoping that by multiplying they might benefit the natives.
He also had a garden dug, and sown with seeds of various sorts.

Leaving this harbour, the _Resolution_ sa