e had sailed some hundreds of
leagues in as dangerous a navigation as in any part of the world, happy
in being ignorant of the continual danger we were in."

By the 14th her bottom was thoroughly repaired, and Cook speaks highly of
the Dutch workmen:

"I do not believe there is a Marine Yard in the World where work is done
with more alertness than here, or where there are better conveniences for
heaving ships down, both in point of safety and Despatch."

The water, a perquisite of the Commodore of the Dutch East Indian fleet,
was very unsatisfactory, and was found to keep very badly at sea,
although its keeping properties had been loudly vaunted by the Commodore.
Cook was present at his appointment:

"one of the grandest sights Batavia afforded; that may be too, and yet it
did not recompense us for our trouble. I thought that the whole was but
ill conducted, and the fleet appeared to be very badly mann'd."

A seaman who had run from a Dutch ship entered on the Endeavour, was
claimed by the Dutch on the grounds that he was a Dane from Elsinore.
Cook promised he should be given up if he proved not to be a British
subject, and enquiry by Mr. Hicks resulted in a report to the Governor
that he was an Irishman, so the matter dropped. His name was James Marra,
and he will be again met with as gunner's mate on the Resolution.

DEATH OF TUPIA.

Before leaving Batavia there had been seven deaths, including Mr.
Reynolds, artist, and Tupia and his boy servant, and Cook gives the
number of sick as "forty or more." Hoping the sea breezes might have a
beneficial effect, preparations were hurried forward, and they managed to
leave the day after Christmas Day, being duly saluted by the garrison
with fourteen guns, and the Earl of Elgin with thirteen guns and three
cheers, "all of which we return'd."

Calling at Prince's Island in the straits of Sunda, where some of the
Batavian water was replaced by better, the sailors were allowed to
purchase whatever they fancied in hopes of diminishing the dysentery
which was rampant. Every precaution that could be thought of was tried,
but in vain. Mr. Banks lost Messrs. Sporing and Parkinson, and on 29th
January Mr. Green died; he had been long ill, but Cook says he would not
take proper care of himself. To judge from his own Journal, he must have
been rather a difficult man to get on with, but his services as observer
were invaluable, and he at all times and seasons was devoted to his
spe