s were very different from those on the Russian maps,
and was afraid the mistake might be carried through, but the latitudes
were fairly correct. As far as he could ascertain, the instrument used
for the survey had been the theodolite. Before leaving, Ismailoff gave
Cook letters for the Governor of Kamtschatka and the Commandant of
Petropaulowsk; and Cook, finding "he was tolerably well versed in
astronomy," gave him a Hadley's octant, and though it was the first one
he had seen, he soon made himself acquainted with its uses. A letter to
the English Admiralty was also entrusted to him to be forwarded via
Petersburg, as opportunity might offer. This letter and a chart of the
northern coasts was delivered in London the following year.

On 26th October the two ships got away, and, in case of separation,
Clerke was given his rendezvous, first, the Sandwich Islands, and second,
Petropaulowsk in the middle of May. On 28th the discovery met with a
nasty accident during a gale; the fore and main tacks carried away,
killing one man, and seriously injuring the boatswain and two others. On
25th November the islands were sighted, and the customary orders as to
the officers appointed to trade with the natives were issued, and no
curiosities were to be purchased before the ships had received
satisfactory supplies. They first called in at Mowee, where the natives
soon came out and appeared friendly, and traded with less suspicion than
any of the South Sea Islanders they had met with before.

Having procured a quantity of sugar-cane, Cook ordered it to be used in
brewing, as he found a strong decoction of the juice produced a wholesome
and palatable beer, and would enable him to save the spirits for the
colder climates. However, the crews would have none of it, so Cook and
his officers made use of it whenever cane was procurable, and gave
himself:

"no trouble either to oblige or persuade them to drink it, knowing there
was no danger of scurvy so long as we had plenty of other vegetables, but
that I might not be disappointed in my views, I gave orders that no grog
should be served in either ship." He then goes on to say: "Every
innovation whatever, tho' ever so much to their advantage, is sure to
meet with the highest disapprobation from seaman. Portable soup and sour
kraut were at first both condemned by them as stuff not fit for human
beings to eat. Few men have introduced into their ships more novelties in
the way of victuals and