from the earth with greater accuracy than heretofore, but also the
extent of the whole host of stars that move with our earth around the
sun and form what is called our Solar System.

An opportunity occurring so seldom was not to be lost. Learned men were
sent to all parts of the world to observe the event. Among others,
Captain Cook was sent to the south seas--there, among the far-off coral
isles, to note the passage of a little star across the sun's face--an
apparently trifling, though in reality important, event in the history
of science.

So much for the object of Cook's first voyage. Let us now turn to the
details thereof.

The vessel chosen by him for his long and dangerous voyage to unknown
seas was a small one of only 370 tons burden. It was named the
_Endeavour_. The crew consisted of forty-one seamen, twelve marines,
and nine servants--these, with the officers and the scientific men of
the expedition, made up a body of eighty-five persons.

The scientific men above mentioned were, Mr Green, an astronomer; Mr
Banks, a naturalist, who afterwards became Sir Joseph Banks and a
celebrated man; Doctor Solander, who was also a naturalist; and two
draughtsmen, one of whom was skilled in drawing objects of natural
history, the other in taking views of scenery.

The _Endeavour_ was victualled for a cruise of eighteen months. She was
a three-masted vessel of the barque rig, and carried twenty-two large
guns, besides a store of small arms,--for the region of the world to
which they were bound was inhabited by savages, against whom they might
find it necessary to defend themselves.

When all was ready, Captain Cook hoisted his flag, and spread his sails,
and, on the 26th of August 1768, the voyage began--England soon dropped
out of sight astern, and ere long the blue sky above and the blue sea
below were all that remained for the eyes of the navigators to rest
upon.

It is a wonderful thought, when we come to consider it, the idea of
_going to sea_! To sailors who are used to it, the thought, indeed, may
be very commonplace, and to lazy minds that are not much given to think
deeply upon any subject, the thought may not appear very wonderful; but
it is so, nevertheless, to us, men of the land, when we calmly sit down
and ponder the idea of making to ourselves a house of planks and beams
of wood, launching it upon the sea, loading it with food and
merchandise, setting up tall poles above its roof, spreading gr