14th, when he immediately sent word to Messrs. Banks
and Solander, who were still in London, that he was ready for sea, and
was only waiting for a fair wind to sail. They therefore started at once,
their baggage being already on board, and joined Cook on 20th August.

CREW WELL SATISFIED.

Having received his extra guns, marines, twelve barrels of powder, and
other stores, Cook mustered his men, paid them two months advance, and
explained to them that they were not to expect any additional pay for the
intended voyage. He says, "they were well satisfied, and expressed great
cheerfulness and readiness to prosecute the voyage."

The orders under which he sailed were secret, and, unfortunately, are not
to be found. Admiral Wharton says the covering letter is in existence,
but the orders which should be on the next page are missing. Cook writes:

"I was ordered, therefore, to proceed directly to Otaheite; and, after
the astronomical observations should be completed, to prosecute the
design of making discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean by proceeding to
the South as far as the latitude of 40 degrees: then, if I found no land,
to proceed to the west between 40 and 35 degrees till I fell in with New
Zealand, which I was to explore, and thence return to England by such
route as I should think proper."

His last letter to the Admiralty, before leaving England, was written on
the day of his arrival at Plymouth, informing them of that fact, and
announcing his intention of proceeding to sea with all possible despatch.

CHAPTER 7. 1768 TO 1769. PLYMOUTH TO OTAHEITE.

After waiting for some days for a fair wind, Cook eventually sailed at 2
P.M. on 26th August, having, as he says in his Journal, "94 persons,
including officers, seamen, Gentlemen and their servants; near 18 months'
provisions, 10 carriage guns, 12 swivels, with good store of ammunition,
and stores of all kinds" on board. On 1st September they had heavy gales
lasting for about four-and-twenty hours, and a small boat belonging to
the boatswain was washed away, and "between three and four dozen of our
poultry, which was worst of all," were drowned. The ship was found to be
very leaky in her upper works, and the sails in the store got very wet.
Banks notes that they caught two birds in the rigging that had evidently
been blown off the coast of Spain. On 13th September they anchored in
Funchal Roads, and during the night "the Bend of the Hawser of the stream
anchor