Resolution at the Canary and Cape Verde Islands
On 1 August, Cook wrote
Anchored in the Road of St Cruz on the [NE] side of the Island of Teneriffe in 23 fathom Water, the bottom sand and owse... being near half a mile from the Shore. Found riding here the La bousole a French Frigate commanded by M. Baurdat, two brigs of the same Nation, an English Brig from London bound to Senegal and fourteen sail of Spanish Vessels. We had no sooner anchored here then we were visted by the Master of the Port who did no more than ask the Ships name. As soon as he was gone I sent an officer to wait on the Governor to ask leave to Water and to purchase such articles as we were in want of, all of which he granted with the greatest politeness... in the after noon I [went ashore] accompaned by some of my Officers, and before I returned on board agreed with the Master of a Spanish boat to Water the Ship, as I found we could not do it our selves, bespeaked some Corn and Straw for the Stock [animals] and ordered some Wine from Mr McCarrick the Contractor...
I observed that all the Ships had four Anchors out, two to the ME & two to the SW and their Cables buoyed up with Casks, ours suffered a little by not observing this last Custom.
The next day, Anderson “In the morning went on shore and in the Afternoon four of us hir’d Mules to ride to the city of Laguna. We arriv’d there between five and six in the evening but found a sight of it very unable to compensate for our trouble as the roads were very bad & the Mules but indifferent”.
The following day, Cook wrote to the Admiralty Secretary from Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands.
After leaving Plymouth, I found I had not Provisions on board for the Stock [i.e. animals] I am carrying to the South Sea Islands, to last to the Cape of Good Hope, and was under a necessity to put in some-where to get more and made choice of this Island, where I arrived two days ago, and having got what I wanted, am getting under sail to proceed on the Voyage.
On 3 August, Cook wrote to an unknown recipient, possibly Joseph Banks.
Before I sailed from Plymouth I had trusted to my officers and the butcher to calculate the time the provisions was to last, the stock on board. When I got to sea I found the one had deceived the other, and both me; and that it was necessary I should touch somewhere to get more. I made choice of this island as the likeliest to answer my purpose, and the event has proved that I was not mistaken.
While I was at Plymouth, Mr. Stephens, Admiral Amherst’s secretary, procured me a sight of a book containing a great number of manuscript charts, or rather sketches, of the several ports on the west coast of South America. They appeared to me to have been copied by one hand from some old MS. Spanish pilot book; they did not seem to have any great pretention to accuracy, and many of the ports were without soundings.
Nevertheless, as the book was to be sold I should have got it, had I not been prevented by my speedy departure, and I was unwilling to appear desirous of it, as the people had got it into their heads I was going on that coast. I think it was worth your having, was it even to lodge in the Admiralty, if nothing of that kind is already there. I was told it might be got for a trifle, being in the hands of a person who had no use for it. It lately belonged to a curious gentleman who is dead. I never once thought to mention it when I wrote from Plymouth; but as it is a book few people will value, I apprehend it will not now be too late. I am just going to get under sail to proceed on the voyage, and shall stop at St. Jago [Santiago], just to fill up my water. As I had a contrary wind for some days after leaving Plymouth, I expect Captain Clerke is not far behind me.
Before leaving the island, Cook wrote in his journal.
Captain Baurdat was at this place making in conjunction with Mr Varila a Spanish gentleman astronomical observations for asserting the going of two Watch Machines they had on board the Frigate. They had a tent on the pier head in which they made their observations and compared their watches every d[ay] at Nook with the Clock on shore... The three days Comparrisons which we made [between their watches and Cook’s] assured us that the Watch had not materially if atall altered her rate of going.
Jean-Charles Borda and Don Joseph Varela y Ulloa were testing chronometers made by the Swiss Ferdinand Berthoud, a watchmaker in France. Cook had Kendall’s K1 chronometer, the copy of Harrison’s H4 that he had taken on the Second Voyage. It was necessary to check the rate at which chronometers (or watches as they were called at that time) gained or lost time each day by means of astronomical observations ashore.
Cook later wrote.
I had applied to the Chevalier de Borda, whom... I found at Teneriffe, requesting, that if he knew any thing of the island discovered by Monsieur de Kerguelen, between the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland, he would be so obliging as to communicate it to me. Accordingly, just before we sailed from Santa Cruz bay, he sent me the following account of it, viz.
“That the Pilot of the Boussole, who was in the voyage with Monsieur de Kerguelen, had given him the latitude and longitude of a little island, which Monsieur de Kerguelen called the Isle of Rendezvous, and which lies not far from the great island which he saw. Latitude of the little isle, by seven observations, 48° 26′ South; longitude, by seven observations of the distance of the Sun and Moon, 64° 57′ East from Paris”.
I was very sorry I had not sooner known that there was on board the frigate at Teneriffe, an officer who had been with Monsieur de Kerguelen, especially the Pilot; because from him I might have obtained more interesting information about this land than the situation alone, of which I was not before entirely ignorant.
On 4 August, Cook wrote, “Having completeated our Water and got on board every other thing we wanted at the Island, we weighed anchor... and proceeded on our Voyage with a fine gale”. According to Harvey, “Killd a Bullock for the Ship’s Compy weighing 358 lb”. Two days later, “Killd a Bullock for the Ship’s Compy weighing 312 lb”.
On 8 August, Anderson “Saw several flying fish today. It is remarkable that so few of them were seen in this passage as I remember formerly to have seen great numbers even before reaching Madeira”. The next day, King wrote, “Yesterday Morning a small Land Bird perch’d upon our Pumpkins, eat very heartily & staid with Us till this Morning, when relying on recovered Strength it left Us”. The next day, Harvey wrote, “Great N[umber] of Porpoises, Albacores and flying fish about. Clean’d and smoakd between Decks. By the Captain’s order, the Warrant & Petty Officers were put to allowance of Water 6 Quarts for 5 Men per Deim”.
On 10 August, Anderson
saw the island Bonavista about half a mile to the westward... I was looking over the Starboard quarter at the Land as it still appear’d very near, when I thought something like breakers appear’d at a distance but hesitated whether I should mention it or not least it might be a mistake. Fortunately at this instant the Captain came over to the same place and just as I was going to mention my suspicions he observ’d something of the same sort and orderd them to starboard the helm. In less than a minute the cry of hard-a starboard became general & we could now see a range of breakers at a very small distance: upon which we were steering a direct course. Orders were given to brace the yards sharp up; but I who could only be an idle spectator in this scene of confusion went abaft and had a clear prospect of our impending danger. For the space of ten minutes I thought it utterly impossible we should avoid striking on the rocks: but the moenuvre with the sails being pretty quick I had the pleasure to see the ship lye parallel to them. This glimpse of hope was notwithstanding almost instantly obscur’d, for the wind being gentle with a considerable swell she approach’d nearer the rocks though going a head. At last however we clear’d the large range and also a single place over which the sea broke that seem’d to threaten danger after passing the other.
On 11 August, Cook “hauled to the Westward to go between Bonavista and the isle of Mayo [Maio], intending to look into Port Praya [in Santiago] for the Discovery, as I had told Captain Clerke I should touch there and I did not know how soon he might sail after me”.
On 16 August, Cook wrote, “At 9 o’clock in the Morning... we arrived before Port Praya in the island of St Iago [Santiago, the main Cape Verde island], where we saw two Dutch Indiamen and a sml brig at anchor. As the Discovery was not there and we had expended but little Water sence we left Teneriffe I did not think proper to go in, but stood to the southward”.
On 22 August, King wrote, “Got ye People’s Bedding upon Deck to air”. The next day, Cook “caught two Sharks; a great many small Dolphin about the Ship, several of which we caught with a white fly and rod. Omai first showed us the way and caught twice the number of any body besides”. Five days later, Anderson noted, “Two flying fish came in at one of the Gunports this evening”.
On 31 August, Harvey wrote, “Serv’d Sour Krout to ye Ship’s Compy”. King recorded, “For these 3 or 4 Nights past there has been Halo’s round the [moon] but no change of Weather has followed in consequence; these Halo’s were very beautifully coloured”.
Discovery Sails Alone for the Cape of Good Hope
On 2 August, Clerke wrote, “Securd the Boats upon the Quarters”, i.e. the sides of the ship near to the stern. The next day, “Exercised great Guns and small Arms... Served Slops [clothes] to the People this afternoon”.
Other ships seen in the distance were noted by several men during August.
4th Clerke, “At 7 [AM] Saw a Sail to the Leeward”.
5th. Bayly, “in the Evening Saw a Sail on the SE quarter”.
6th. Edgar, “Saw a Sail to the Westward standing to the NE”.
7th. Clerke, “Many Vessels in sight”.
8th. Clerke, “Several Sail in sight this afternoon”.
9th. Bayly, “in the morning saw a Sail ahead laying too for us, & suspecting she might be an American Privateer all hand was put to their quarters, & the ship cleared & made ready for action but she proved to be the Snow [a two-masted vessel] called the Diana bound from Lisbon to London”.
On 7 August, Burney wrote, “Passed by Cape Finistere”, the Northwestern point of Spain. Two days later, Burney noted, “Served fishing lines, hooks, etc. to the Ships Company”. The next day, Clerke “Began serving sour Krout to the Ship’s Company”.
On 11 August, Clerke “Read the Articles of War & the Abstract to the People”. In 1749, Parliament had passed “An Act for amending, explaining, and reducing into one Act of Parliament the Laws relating to the Government of His Majesty’s Ships, Vessels and Forces by Sea”.
Two days later, “Saw the Island of Madeira”. The next day, “Running along the Isle of Madeira... distant from Shore I believe about 5 Leagues”.
On 15 August, Clerke wrote, “At 6 [AM] Saw two Sail, one to the Westward, the other in the SW... The Beer being out, serv’d Grog to the People... Every passage I have made from England to the Madeiras, I’ve observd a Current to affect the Ship very considerably”. The next day, Bayly noted, “in the afternoon lost sight of Madeira, during the course of the last two days we saw many Shark, Dolphin, Flying fish & 3 or 4 Green Turtle sleeping on the Water but was not fortunate enough to strike any of them”. Clerke “got up many stores to Air, which we find a little damp and mildewed in the Storerooms”. The following day, “Spread and Aird the Peoples Bedding upon Deck... This afternoon the People at their own disposal to clean themselves &ca”.
On 18 August, Burney wrote, “It being intended to stop no where in our passage to the Cape of Good Hope went to a daily allowance of 2 Quarts of Water exclusive of what was used for Cooking and in moderate weather set the Still at Work which generally gave us about 10 Gallons in an Afternoon”. The next day, Clerke “set Mr Irwin’s Still to work, but the working of the Vessel was too much for it. We only got 6 Gallons of fresh Water in 3&½ hours”. Charles Irving was a surgeon and inventor, who devised a machine for distilling sea water. It had been used in Resolution during her previous voyage. According to Bayly, “it was badly attended, the condensing pipe not being properly cooled so that a great quantity went off in Steam”.
On 20 August, Clerke wrote, “Reev’d a New Tiller Rope, the old one being worn unserviceable... I found the Ship most confoundedly lumber’d by a multitude of Chests, so hove most of them overboard and ordered the People Canvas Bags for the more convenient Stowage of their little matters”. The next day, Bayly noted, “we crossed the Tropic of Cancer... for many days past we have seen great numbers of Flying fish & some Albatross & Skipjacks”. Clerke “exercised great Guns & small Arms and fir[e]d Vollies”.
Discovery at the Cape Verde Islands
On 26 August, Bayly wrote, “in the morning saw the Island of St Nicholas (one of the Cape de Verdes)”. The next day, “At noon we saw Bonavista (another of the Cape de Verdes)... In the evening we saw the Island of St Jago [Santiago]”. The following day, “At 5 in the morning we hauled close in to the mouth of Port Praya Bay but the Resolution not being there we stood out to sea”.
Also that day, Bayly noted, “got up the Cables & washed & clean’d between decks, & washed with vinegar & smoaked the Ship with a composition made of vinegar & Gunpowder with the Hatches made secure so that the smoke could not escape. The Gunner remained below during the whole time but did not find any inconvenience from the Smoke, only a very great perspiration”.
On 31 August, the musters show that Thomas Sheath was downrated from his position of Quartermaster to able bodied seaman (AB), and William Hollamby was promoted from AB to Quartermaster.
Resolution Continues Alone for the Cape
On 1 September, Harvey wrote, “Serv’d Sour Krout to ye Ship’s Compy”. Anderson commented.
The afternoon was spent in the old ridiculous ceremony of ducking those who had not cross’d the Equator before. This is one of those absurd customs which craft and inconsiderate levity has imposed on mankind and which every sensible person who has it in his power ought to suppress instead of encouraging.
On 2 September, Anderson wrote, “At night there appeard broad luminous spots in the sea which at first I thought were fish but was soon convinc’d to the contrary by seeing some near the Ship. This light or Phosphorence is of that kind that is often seen sparkling from the ships side at night but differs in magnitude & duration & the space it occupys”. King noted, “Exercis’d Great Guns”. Two days later, wrote Harvey, “Read ye Articles of War to ye Ship’s Compy”.
On 8 September, King “Saw a Water Spout”. The next day, Cook noted “several Porpoises, Albacores, and Dolphins about the Ship, but with all our skill, which by-the-by is very little, we could catch none”. Three days later, Anderson wrote, “At night a very bright Meteor like a large star appear’d in the SE which vanish’d almost instantly”. The next day, Anderson “In the twilight saw such a bright Meteor as mentiond yesterday a little above the horizon which appear’d like a setting star but was of a very short duration”.
On 16 September, Anderson wrote, “In the morning early Fresh breezes or Moderate gales with squalls and a good deal of rain... The upper works of the Ship so open (or rather her sides) that the water pour’d into the Cabins of the Gun room so as to render them unfitt to sleep in. Cleand & smoak’d below”. Two days later Gore, “found one of the Ships Tents a little Damagd by Mildew, dip’d it overboard” to clean it. Two days later, Gore “Found another of the Ships Tents a little Damag’d by Mildew. Scrub’d and dip’d it overboard”.
On 22 September, Harvey wrote, “Issued out Wort, The Rob of Oranges & Lemons made into a small Punch & given to those that the Surgeon thought [should have it to ward against scurvy]”. The next day, “Carp[enter] painting the Pinnace”. Gore noted, “Sail maker repairing the Tent that was Rotted with Mildew”. Anderson “Saw some Cape hens (Procellariæ æquinoctiales Linnæi”. The White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis).
On 25 September, Anderson “Saw some Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans Linnæi), Pintado birds (Procellariæ Capenses Linnæi), and another sort of Petrels which I have observe’d in a former voyage to the southward of the Cape good hope. They are of a dull black on the upper part with a white belly and greyish breast & face: their size about that of a common pigeon”. He saw the Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis), Cape Petrel (Daption capense), and possibly the Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis).
Also that day, King wrote, “The Dews We have had for these last 4 days came on about 8 in ye Evening & continued till four in ye Morning, they wet ye Sails as if it had rain’d; the Wind during this time blow’d very chilly”. Three days later, “A Sea came on ye Quarter, broke a Sash Window in the Steerage & filld that place full of Water, which by leaking thro ye Deck, fill’d my Cabbin & damagd the Books &ca”.
On 28 September, Anderson wrote,
A considerable sea from the NW. Steerd EbS. The ship made a great deal of water at the side seams which wet her entirely between decks so that few could sleep dry in their beds. This was not from the rain so much as the sea breaking upon her side. In short it appears that the negligence of those who caulk’d her has been the cause of this: a circumstance so uncomfortable in a long voyage & so unfavourable to the health of the people that it well deserves the enquiry of those under whose inspection ships are fitted out.
The next day, Anderson “Saw several Albatrosses, Cape petrels, Cape hens, Black & white Petrels, and small black or swallow-like Petrels”. The last was Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus).
On 30 September, Anderson wrote, “At night a considerable quantity of those luminous flashes formerly mentioned appear’d in the sea”.
Cook, possibly in despair, wrote
On looking into the After Sailroom, or that under the Cooks fire hearth, found several of the sails Wet, occasioned by the Deck being leaky over them, and as this cannot be come at without removin[g] the fire hearth, more care ought to have been taken to [make] it tight at first; a neglect for which the Yard Officers can have no excuse as they were desired to pay proper attention to it. If I except some part of the Quarter Deck there is not a foot of seam in the whole upper works but what leaks, every shower of rain drives the Officers out of their cabbins.
Discovery Continues Alone for the Cape
On 1 September, Clerke wrote, “There have been 24 hours of very unsettled disagreeable Weather, but such a is very frequently met with in situations where the Sun is so nearly vertical [overhead]”.
The next day, Edgar “Read the Articles of War & punish’d Hamlet Thompson, Marine with 12 lashes for neglect of Duty, & behaving with Contempt to his officer”. Once again, it was James Kick. Thompson’s first name does not appear on the musters as Hamlet, but as Ham, Hamt, Hamlt and Hamet. Other evidence has his name as Hemit.
On 3 September, Bayly “saw a sail to the Eastward steering nearly due East but not near enough to speak her”. Four days later, Clerke wrote, “We have now a very heavy Swell from the Southward as much as to make our Bark plunge exceedingly”. Two days later, Edgar noted the men were “Emply’d Drawing & knotting yarns [to make rope]”.
On 9 September, Clerke wrote, “We now begin to give the Wort to those People which the Surgeon thinks constitutionally most subject to the scurvy, though we have not at present the least symptoms of it”. The surgeon was John Law.
Two days later, Clerke “saw a Sail in the SE Quarter, standing to the Westward. Exercised great Guns & small Arms”. Bayly wrote, “had great numbers of fish round the Ship & very great number of Man of War birds & other Sea fowl”.
On 13 September, Bayly wrote, “at night the Sea was exceeding luminous. On examination I found the water had a great quantity of transparent white long matter [which] gives the Water the Appearance of fire in the dark when Agitated. But, whether it is... the Spawn of Fish is hard to determine”. Edgar “got up & air’d the boatswains small stores”. The next day, Clerke wrote, “A large Swell from the Southward. We make but poor way against this confounded Southern Breeze and Sea together”. Two days later, Bayly wrote, “in the Evening saw a great many fish call’d Bottlenoses (from their heads resembling the bottom of a quart Bottle)”.
On 17 September, Burney wrote, “Crossed the Equator in 15 degrees West Longitude from Greenwich”. According to Bayly, “It being customary to duck the Seamen at their first crossing the line which is frequently productive of Accidents; but to prevent it Capt Clerke gave the People a double Allowance of Grog to enable them to be merry and not to have any ducking”.
The next day, Clerke wrote, “Employ’d airing & drying various Stores of the Warrant Officers”. Two days later, Burney “Found the Starboard Main Trusseltree Sprung. Bolted and woulded the weak part and got the Main Toprope on the Trusseltree to Support it against the Strain of the Topmast & Rigging”. Trestle-trees were two bars of timber fixed horizontally on the opposite sides of a mast to support the weight of the top-mast.
On 23 September, Clerke wrote, “At ½ past 6 George Harrison Corporal of Marine fell over board, & was unfortunately drowned in spite of our every attempt to save him by heaving the Ship too, hoisting out a Boat &ca. At 8 hoisted in the Boat & made all Sail again”. William Randall, a private marine, was promoted in his place.
According to Bayly, “in the evening... George Harrison, Corporal of Marines, fell over board & was drowned, he went out on the Bowsprit after some Clothes he had washed & hung there to dry, & in coming down with the Clothes on one hand, missed his hold & fell into the Sea, but being a good swimmer floated a long the weather side [of the ship]; the Ship being going 4 Knots, we threw a grating over board as soon as possible but a[t] some distance from him. Brot too & hoisted out a Boat & went in Search of him but found only his hat. The water was smooth; & the Moon shone bright, we imagined he sunk soon probably from fear”. A grating was a large lattice of wood that was used to protect the hatches and allow air and light into the lower parts of the ship. Presumably, they fastened a rope to the grating so it could be retrieved.
On 30 September, Clerke wrote, “This forenoon sold the effects of George Harrison our late Corporal of Marines. Got the Jolly Boat upon Deck to repair”.
Ian Boreham
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 1876, volume 24, number 3 (2001).