| In 1768, Englishman James Cook, set out on a voyage from England to the Pacific to make astronomical observations. |
He was also secretly instructed by the Admiralty, when he had finished these, to search once again for the great southern continent.
His orders ran:
Whereas the making Discoverys [sic] of Countries, hitherto unknown, & the Attaining a Knowledge of distant parts which though formerly discover'd have yet been imperfectly explored, will redound greatly to the Honour of this Nation as a Maritime Power, as well as to the Dignity of the Crown of Great Britain, & may tend greatly to the advancement of the Trade & Navigation thereof; & whereas there is reason to imagine that a Continent or Land of great extent may be found . . . proceed to the Southward in order to make discovery of the Continent above mentioned until you arrive in the Lat. of 40º, unless you sooner fall in with it. . . .
If you discover the Continent above mentioned either in your Run to the Southw'd or to the Westw'd as above directed, you are to employ yourself diligently in exploring as great an Extent of the Coast as you can . . . surveying & making Charts, and taking Views of Such Bays,
Harbours & Parts of the Coast as may be useful to Navigation. You are also carefully to observe the Nature of the Soil & the products thereof; the Beasts & Fowls that inhabit or frequent it, the Fishes that are to be found in the Rivers or upon the Coast & in what plenty & in Case you find any Mines, Minerals, or valuable Stones you are to bring home specimens of each as also such Specimens of the Seeds & Trees & Fruits & Grains as you may be able to collect . . .
You are likewise to observe the Genius, Temper, Disposition & Number of the Natives, if there be any & endeavour by all proper means to cultivate a Friendship & Alliance with them, making them presents of such Trifles as they may Value inviting them to Traffick, & Shewing them every kind of Civilty & Regard; taking Care however not to suffer yourself to be suprised by them, but to be always on your guard against any Accidents.
You are also with Consent of the Natives to take possession of Convenient Situations in the Country in the Name of the King of G't Britain or; if you find the Country uninhabited take Possession for his Maj'y by setting up Proper Marks & Inscriptions, as first discoverers & Possessors.
The following year Cook discovered New Zealand and claimed it for Great Britain.
In April 1770 he sighted the east coast of Australia. From Botany Bay he sailed north and continued up past Cape York in far north Queensland.
Although rampant amongst sailors on a long journey, Cook's careful watch over diet enabled his crew to escape the dreaded and painful disease scurvy.
Cook followed his instruction completely, he did find a great southern land, and very fertile indeed, but with so few people in it, he considered it useless for trade. It was certainly not like the heavily populated lands expected and that had been discovered over the previous 300 years.
Even so, on August 22 he claimed the whole of Eastern Australia and took posession of it for Britain naming it New South Wales.
The continent as a whole still retained the name New Holland which had been bestowed on it many years before by the Dutch.
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