Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 03.djvu/136

 Crossing the Bay of Biscay, Banks captured many of the surface animals and marine birds, and three weeks after quitting England Madeira was sighted. The harbour of Rio de Janeiro was reached on 13 Nov. The jealousy of the Portuguese officials prevented much collecting being done, except by stealth, and after many altercations with the governor Cook set sail after three weeks' stay in that port. They reached Le Maire's Strait in January 1769, and Banks with his assistants gathered winter's-bark in abundance. Here Banks, Solander, Green the astronomer, and Monkhouse the surgeon started for a day's trip into the interior. Ascending a hill they came upon a swamp, where a fall of snow greatly incommoded and chilled them. Buchan, the artist, was seized with a fit, and, a fire being lit, the least tired completed the ascent to the summit and came down without much delay to the rendezvous. It was now eight o'clock, and they pushed forwards to the ship, Banks bringing up the rear to prevent straggling. Dr. Solander begged every one to keep moving. The cold suddenly became intense. Solander himself was the first who lay down to rest, and at last fell asleep in spite of all Banks's efforts. A few minutes afterwards some of the people who had been sent forward returned with the welcome news that a fire was burning a quarter of a mile in advance. Solander was aroused with the utmost difficulty, having almost lost the use of his limbs, and a black servant had nearly perished. The fire having been reached, Banks sent back two of those who seemed least affected by the cold to bring back the couple who were left with the negro. It was then found that a bottle of rum was in the knapsack of one of the men; the negro was roused by the spirit, but he and his companions drank too freely of it, and all but one of them succumbed to the frost. Others of the party showed signs of frost-bite, but, thanks to Banks's indomitable energy, they were brought to the fire. Here they passed the night in a deplorable condition. They were nearly a day's journey from the vessel, and were destitute of food, except for a vulture which had been shot. It was past eight in the morning before any signs of a thaw set in; then they divided the vulture into ten portions—about three mouthfuls apiece—and by ten it was possible to set out. To their great surprise, they found themselves in three hours upon the beach.

After passing Cape Horn on 10 April 1769 the Endeavour sighted Tahiti, and three days after anchored in Port-Royal Bay. Within four days from this Buchan, the landscape artist, died. This island being the appointed place of observation, a fort was built and preparations made for observing the transit of Venus; during the night the quadrant was stolen by the natives, but Banks had sufficient influence over them to regain it. The transit was observed on 3 June, 1769, particulars of which are given in the ‘Philosophical Transactions,’ lxi. part 2.

Whilst in the island Banks lost no opportunity of observing the customs of the inhabitants, and of getting a knowledge of the natural productions also. He was present at a native funeral, blackened with charcoal and water as low as the waist. Previous to sailing from Tahiti, Banks made as complete an exploration of the island as time permitted, and sowed in suitable spots seeds of melons and other plants, which he had brought from Rio de Janeiro.

The Endeavour proceeded to New Zealand, where six months were spent in exploration of the coast and its productions.

Australia was next visited, and a small kangaroo observed for the first time in Botany Bay, which was so named by the exploring party on account of the abundance of forms of plants unknown to Banks and Solander. The course of the voyage was northward, inside the great barrier reef on the north-east coast of Queensland, and all went well until the night of 10 June 1770, when the Endeavour stuck fast on a coral rock. The ship was lightened nearly fifty tons by throwing overboard six guns, ballast, and heavy stores. Soon afterwards day broke, and a dead calm followed. The pumps were kept going, but the crew became exhausted, and the situation was very critical. But at last the ship was hauled off the rocks, and sail was set to carry her to the land, about six leagues distant. One of the midshipmen, Mr. Monkhouse, suggested the expedient of ‘fothering’ the ship, which he carried out by sewing oakum and wool on a sail and drawing it under the ship's bottom. The suction of the leak drew it inwards, so as to stay the rush of water inwards. On 17 June, a convenient harbour having been found, the Endeavour was taken into it for careening and repair. The timbers were found to have been cleanly cut away by the rocks, and, most singular of all, a fragment of rock remained plugging the hole it had made. Had it not been for this happy circumstance, the ship must have inevitably foundered. In the operation of laying her ashore, the water in the hold went aft, and the bread room was flooded. In this room were stored the dried plants collected with great trouble during the early part of the voyage. The bulk, by