potentate, and received them in a manner worthy of the name they had given to his island realm. Here Cook noticed the use of the word "taboo," which was used in a very extended acceptation to signify "forbidden," and which has since found its way to our own vocabulary, a subject or an institution being often spoken of as "tabooed." From the Friendly Islands Cook proceeded to Otaheite, and the ships were brought to an anchor in the familiar Matavai Bay. Otoo, the King of Otaheite, had been visited shortly before by two Spanish ships from Lima, and a bull and other animals had been left on the island. The live stock brought by the Resolution and Discovery was very acceptable to the king and chiefs, who did not, however, seem to realise the full value of the gift, and were inclined to give the preference to red feathers, which were a never-failing article of traffic among them. There was a great political difficulty in progress at the time when the travellers arrived. The neighbouring island of Eimeo had been for a long time in a state of revolt, and a great fleet sent out to reduce it to subjection had effected little. A new armament was, therefore, to be despatched; and now Cook obtained ocular certainty respecting the practice of offering human sacrifices which had long been rumoured to exist among the Otaheitans, a proof how superstition can produce cruelty even in mild and gentle natures. Towha, a chief of part of the island, who had commanded the former expedition, sent to Otoo one morning to inform him that he had killed a man to be sacrificed to the Ea tooa, or god, that the deity might be propitiated and give his assistance against Eimeo. Cook proposed to accompany Otoo to the Matai, or burying-place, where the poor islander's corpse was to be offered. Otoo readily consented to take the captain with him, and several other Englishmen joined the party. The ceremonies on the occasion were elaborate and numerous, and Otoo was particularly anxious that his visitors should take off their hats as soon as they entered the Matai.

It was customary not to give the unfortunate men selected for these sacrifices any notice of their fate, but to fall upon them suddenly and put them to death with blows of a club or with stones. "The unhappy victim offered up as the object of their worship upon this occasion," says Cook, "seemed to be a middle-aged man, and, as we were told, was a toutou-that is, one of the lowest class of the people. But after all my inquiries I could not learn that he had been pitched upon on account of any particular crime committed by him meriting death. It

is certain, however, that they generally make choice of such guilty persons for their sacrifices, or else of common, low fellows who stroll about from place to place, and from island to island, without having any fixed abode, or any visible way of getting an honest livelihood, of which description of men enough are to be met with at these islands. Having had an opportunity of examining the appearance of the body of the poor sufferer now offered up, I could observe that it was bloody about the head and face, and a good deal bruised about the right temple, which marked the manner of his being killed, and we were told that he had been privately knocked on the head with a stone."

After visiting Eimeo and Bolabola (the island at which Omai had persuaded Cook to "fire great guns" on the former voyage) the prows of the ships were pointed north, and the Resolution and Discovery sailed to prosecute the main object of the voyage, the endeavour to find a passage through Behring's Strait across the continent of North America to Davis's Strait and Baffin's Bay. On his way northward Cook discovered Christmas Island, where they obtained a number of turtles. The island obtained its name from the fact that it was first .seen on Christmas Eve of the year 1777. Some other islands were soon afterwards seen, the natives of which, to the surprise of Cook and his companions, spoke the language of Otaheite. They were very friendly and communicative, anxious to trade with their visitors, and exceedingly respectful withal, but thieves every man of them, like the other islanders of the Pacific. Among the articles they offered for barter their visitors especially remarked some cloaks and caps of feathers sewn upon a groundwork of netting, and so skilfully arranged as to form and colour, that, according to the commander's journal, “even in countries where dress is more particularly attended to, they might be reckoned elegant." The islanders were rich in pigs, poultry, and various vegetables. The predilection for red feathers noticed in the other groups extended to these islands, where an especial value was set upon the plumage of a bird resembling the bird of paradise. That cannibalism was practised among them was soon ascertained beyond doubt. To this group, of which he is the undoubted discoverer, the captain gave the name of the Sandwich Islands, in honour of his patron the Earl of Sandwich.

In March 1778, the ships, after a stormy passage to the north, arrived at Nootka Sound, on the North American coast, in latitude 44 degrees north. The natives, who had evidently before been in commu

nication with Europeans, immediately opened a trade, offering valuable furs for a very moderate equivalent. They understood the use of iron, but put a higher value on brass; accordingly the sailors cut the buttons off their jackets, and bartered them away for the furs which the natives continued to offer in great abundance. They were very anxious to keep the market to themselves, and to prevent other tribes from communicating with the ships. Though peaceable and friendly, they considered that the strangers ought to pay for everything they wished to take, and even the right of cutting grass had to be purchased; and when the captain began to pay for this privilege in beads, it seemed as if every square inch of grass had a separate owner, so many pressed forward and asserted a right to a share in the purchasemoney. But when they found that Cook's stock of beads was really exhausted, and that no more were to be had, these exclusive claims were abandoned, and the crews were allowed to cut wherever they wished. The natives were very ingenious in catching fish, large quantities of which they preserved. While the ships were at Nootka Sound visitors of a stranger tribe appeared in three canoes. One of them exhibited two silver tablespoons of Spanish manufacture, which he wore round his neck as an ornament.

VII.

New Attempt to Penetrate Northward-Stopped by the Ice-Farther Exploration of the Sandwich Group-Discovery of Owyhee-Karakakooa BayReturn of the Ships-Fatal Attack-Death of Cook-Further Proceedings of Captain Clerke-Return to the North-Fur Trade at Canton-Death of Clerke Return of the Ships in 1779.

A

FTER a short stay in Nootka Sound, Cook proceede l northward, and doubled the great promontory of Alashka, the most westerly point of the North American continent. He also ascertained the width of Behring's Strait, which he entered; and he pushed on to the northward, according to his custom surveying the coast wherever this was

practicable.

He had advanced as far as 70 degrees north latitude when it became evident that the attempt to penetrate farther to the north must be abandoned. As far as the eye could reach extended a barrier of ice six feet in height, covered with walruses and seals, and it was evident that for months this barrier must remain unbroken. Accordingly Captain Cook determined to turn southward and defer the exploration of the northern sea till the following summer, consoling himself and his crew for the disappointment of the delay by the reflection that they would have time in the interval to explore the group of the Sandwich Islands, with which they had as yet only made a very cursory acquaintance. Corporal Ledyard, of the marines, who afterwards became distinguished as an African explorer, here distinguished himself by undertaking a perilous journey in an Esquimaux kajak, or

covered canoe, to a Russian settlement, the commander of which had sent a present of fish and a Russian letter, which no one could read, to the captain.

Cook's perseverance in returning to the Sandwich group was rewarded by the discovery of a larger and more important island than any he had seen in those regions. It was called by the natives Owyhee, and seemed of sufficient importance to warrant the commander in spending several weeks in surveying it. The natives made very friendly demonstrations, brought abundance of provisions to the ships, and flocked to visit their guests in such numbers, that many who could not procure admission on board were continually swimming round the ships like fishes. They seemed to have the most profound respect for Captain Cook, to whom they did homage by throwing themselves flat on their faces before him, as if worshipping a being of supernatural power. They were, moreover, thoroughly under the control of their chiefs, whose friendship the kindness of the commander quickly secured, and thus a very friendly intercourse was established, which the petty thefts, which the English had now learned to look upon as unavoidable incidents in their dealing with islanders, were not suffered to interrupt. At Karakakooa Bay, on the west side of the island, the ships were brought to an anchor. The natives made great demonstrations of joy at this evidence of the intention of their visitors to make some stay among them, and all day long men and boys were swimming out to have a nearer view of them, splashing and frisking round the ship like shoals of porpoises. Kaoo, an influential chief, and Terreeoboo, the king of the island, were pleased to give their countenance and support to the visitors, and the king paid a ceremonious visit to the captain, which the latter returned in due form. A company of priests, established in the island, were also very generous in making presents of hogs and vegetables. When the time came for the departure of the ships, great regret was manifested by the natives, who had taken an especial fancy to Lieutenant King, and strongly importuned him to remain among them. At last farewells were exchanged, with every expression of mutual goodwill; and Captain Cook sailed away, with the Discovery in company, with the object of further exploring the coasts of the various islands. Soon afterwards, however, the Resolution sprang her mainmast in so serious a manner that it was considered requisite to return at once to Karakakooa Bay, there to effect the necessary repairs; and thither accordingly the mariners proceeded,