eads which their visitors
presented to them. Their language was harsh in sound; they seemed to
have no form of government, and no sort of religion. Altogether they
appeared to be the most destitute, as well as the most stupid, of all
human beings.

CHAPTER FOUR.

EXPLAINS HOW CORAL ISLANDS ARE MADE.

Soon after this adventurous visit to the land of Tierra del Fuego, the
_Endeavour_ doubled Cape Horn--and entered the waters of the great
Pacific Ocean; and now Cook began to traverse those unknown seas in
which his fame as a discoverer was destined to be made. He sailed over
this ocean for several weeks, however, before discovering any land. It
was on Tuesday morning, the 10th of April, that he fell in with the
first of the coral islands. Mr Banks's servant, Peter Briscoe, was the
first to see it, bearing south, at the distance of about ten or twelve
miles, and the ship was immediately run in that direction. It was found
to be an island of an oval form, with a lake, or lagoon, in the middle
of it. In fact, it was like an irregularly-formed ring of land, with
the ocean outside and a lake inside. Coral islands vary a good deal in
form and size, but the above description is true of many of them.

To this island the crew of the _Endeavour_ now drew near with looks of
eager interest, as may well be believed, for an unknown land necessarily
excites feelings of lively curiosity in the breasts of those who
discover it.

It was found to be very narrow in some places, and very low, almost on a
level with the sea. Some parts were bare and rocky; others were covered
with vegetation, while in several places there were clumps of trees--
chiefly cocoa-nut palms. When the ship came within a mile of the
breakers, the lead was hove, but no bottom was found with 130 fathoms of
line! This was an extraordinary depth so near shore, but they
afterwards found that most of the coral islands have great depth of
water round them, close outside the breakers.

They now observed that the island was inhabited, and with the glass
counted four-and-twenty natives walking on the beach. These all seemed
to be quite naked. They were of a brown colour, and had long black
hair. They carried spears of great length in their hands, also a
smaller weapon, which appeared to be either a club or a paddle. The
huts of these people were under the shade of some palm-trees, and
Captain Cook says that to him and his men, who had seen nothing but