.

Besides the numerous important discoveries made by Cook on this voyage,
he had shown that, by due attention, the health of a ship's company can
be preserved in all climates, and while undergoing extreme toil. His
system was to make the crew keep their persons, hammocks, bedding, and
clothes clean and dry; to air the ship once or twice every week with
fires, or to smoke her with gunpowder mixed with vinegar and water. A
fire in an iron pot was frequently lowered to the bottom of the well.
The ship's coppers were kept constantly cleaned. Fresh water was taken
on board whenever practicable, and vegetables, including scurvy-grass,
and greens of all descriptions, were, when possible, obtained. As a
remedy against scurvy, sweet wort was found most valuable, two or three
pints a day being given to a man on the slightest appearance of the
disease. Preparations of potatoes, lemons, and oranges were served out,
and a pound of sour-krout was supplied to each man twice a week, while
sugar and wheaten flour were found useful, but oatmeal and fish oil were
considered to promote scurvy.

The voyage, now completed, was justly considered without a parallel in
the history of maritime enterprise. Never, indeed, had any expedition
been conducted with greater skill and perseverance. Cook received the
honours which were his due. He was raised to the rank of Post-Captain,
and named a Captain in Greenwich Hospital, and in February of the
following year he was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

CAPTAIN COOK'S THIRD VOYAGE--A.D. 1776.

A third voyage planned--The _Resolution_ and _Discovery_ commissioned--
Expedition sails--Omai taken on board--Touch at the Cape of Good Hope--
Van Diemen's Land--New Zealand--The Friendly or Tonga Islands reached--
Acquaintance formed with Feenon--His treacherous designs--Cook's
determined conduct checks the natives--Visits Otaheite--Omai shows his
true character--Astonishment of natives on seeing horses ridden--Omai
landed at Huaheine with his property--His bad conduct and wretched
fate--Desertions at Ulietea--Live stock landed--Bolabola and other
islands visited--Unknown islands sighted--Cook lands--Natives receive
him with deep respect--Assist the watering party--Name of Sandwich
Islands given to the group--Ships proceed to coast of America--Natives
come off at Nootka Sound--Anchor in Prince William's Sound--The ships
enter Behring's Straits--Turned b