our, and the latitude of Cape Norman was
found to be 51 degrees 39 minutes North; soundings were taken every mile.
On 3rd August Cook left the ship in the cutter to continue his work, but
having met with a nasty accident he had to return on the 6th. It seems he
had a large powder horn in his hand, when, by some means not stated, the
powder ignited, and the horn "was blown up and burst in his hand, which
shattered it in a terrible manner, and one of the people which was hard
by suffered greatly by the same accident." The Grenville left at once for
Noddy's Harbour, where there was a French ship which had a doctor on
board, arriving there at eleven o'clock, was able to secure some sort of
medical assistance, though probably in the eye of a modern medical man,
of a very rough nature. At that time surgery, especially on board ship,
was very heroic; a glass of spirits the only anodyne, and boiling pitch
the most reliable styptic.

In reference to this accident the Lords of the Admiralty wrote to Lord
Halifax, quoting a letter they had received from Captain Pallisser, dated
14th November 1764:

"Mr. Cook, the surveyor, has returned. The accident to him was not so bad
as it was represented. Nor had it interrupted his survey so much as he
(Captain Pallisser) expected. He continued on the coast as long as the
season would permit, and has executed his survey in a manner which, he
has no doubt, will be satisfactory to their Lordships. I have ordered him
to proceed to Woolwich to refit his vessel for the next season, and to
lay before the Board, Draughts of his surveys with all his remarks and
observations that may be useful to Trade and Navigation in those parts."

Pallisser did not see Cook till some time after the accident, when the
worst was over, and it is quite in keeping with Cook's character to
minimise his sufferings, and to insist on the work being kept going as
far as possible. The surgeon, Mr. Samwell, relates that after the murder
at Owhyee they were enabled to identify his hand by the scar which he
describes as "dividing the thumb from the fingers the whole length of the
metacarpal bones." Whilst Cook was laid up with his hand, and Mr. Parker
was engaged with the survey, some of the men were employed brewing, and
either the brew was stronger than usual or, the officer's eye being off
them, they indulged too freely, for on 20th August it is noted that three
men were confined to the deck for drunkenness and mutinous con