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During the Seven Years War (1756-1763) Cook went to Canada where he learned how to survey and make charts.
He spent the next few years developing his skills and making charts of the
St. Lawrence River (1759-60) and Halifax (1760-62) For five years (1762-67)
Cook surveyed the coast of Newfoundland during the summer periods, returning
to Britain for the winters. Cook’s talents as a surveyor and mapmaker
came to the notice of Admiral Saunders who arranged for Cook’s charts
to be published back in England.
South
Channel of Orleans, Quebec
During his three great voyages Cook kept detailed records
of the position of his ship and charted his course across the vast tracts of
empty ocean. Amongst Cook’s great achievements were the first accurate
charts of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia, the location of many
Pacific islands and his exploration in the high latitudes of the Arctic and
Antarctic circles.
Chart
of the Great South Sea
King George’s Island, or Otaheiti (Tahiti), was discovered
by Captain Wallis, commander of HMS Dolphin (1766-68). When Cook visited Tahiti
in order to observe the Transit of Venus in 1769 he made charts and maps of
the island.
“Very early this morning I set out in the Pinnace, accompined by Mr.
Banks and one of ye Natives with an intent to make the Circuit of the Island
in order to examine and draw a Sketch of the Coast and Harbours thereof…The
Plan or Sketch which I have drawn, although it cannot be very accurate yet it
will be found sufficient to point out the situations of the different Bays and
harbours and the figure of the Island and I believe is without any material
error.”
(Cook, Journals I, pp.105-114, 26th-28th June 1769)
A
Plan of King George’s Island
During the six months between October 1769 and April 1770
Cook sailed over 2,400 miles around the coast of New Zealand, surveying the
coast from on board the ship or else ashore. Surveying from the ship could be
very hazardous with the ship having to sail as close to the shore as was safe
without running aground. At night, in order to continue a survey from the same
place the following morning, the ship anchored if it was possible or else had
to hold its position off the coast. The chart that Cook produced of New Zealand
was very accurate for its time and a remarkable achievement considering the
methods and equipment used and the weather that was encountered.
Chart
of New Zealand
Cook commented on the accuracy of various parts of his survey
of New Zealand:
“The Chart which I have drawn will best point out the figure and extent
of these Islands…beginning at Cape Palliser and proceed round Aehei no
mouwe (North Island) by the East Cape &ca. The Coast between these two Capes
I believe to be laid down pretty accurate both in its figure and the Course
and distance from point to point. The oppertunities I had and the methods I
made use on to obtain these requesites were such as could hardly admit of an
error… some few places however must be excepted and these are very doubtfull
…”
(Cook, Journals I, 275-6)
North
Island of New Zealand
Cook gave names to all the prominent features on the coasts
he surveyed. Inspiration for these names came from a variety of sources: from
the shape, colour or general characteristics of the landscape; the experiences
of the ship’s crew, particularly if they landed in a place which was fertile
and the ship could be re-supplied, or the native people were friendly or hostile;
and the ship’s crew if they had been the first to sight the land or prominent
members of British society and members of the Admiralty Board.
A
chart of part of the north coast of New Zealand
When Cook sailed west from New Zealand heading back to Britain
in March 1770 he was looking for Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). He was
too far north and arrived at Point Hicks, now Cape Everard, New Holland (Australia)
in April 1770. Cook turned north at the start of a two thousand mile journey
that involved the first accurate charting and naming of points along the east
coast of Australia.
A
chart of the Coast of New South Wales
Cook found a landing place that he first called Stingray,
later Botany, Bay on 29th April.
“At day light in the morning we discovered a Bay which appeard to
be tolerably well sheltered from all winds into which I resoloved to go with
the Ship and with this view sent the Master in the Pinnace to sound the entrance
while we kept turning up with the Ship having the wind right out…”
(Cook, Journals I, pp.304-6)
Cook investigated the area here until departure on 6th May 1770.
Botany
Bay in New South Wales
After almost being wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef (June)
and repairs in the Endeavour River (June-August) Endeavour sailed north again
and after four months Cook rounded what he called Cape York, the northern point
of New Holland. He then sailed on to Batavia (Jakarta)
A
chart of the sea coast of New South Wales
Cook charted his route on the second voyage in search of
the Great Southern Continent and included notes of significant events on the
chart:
“Here we watered our Ship with Ice the 1st. Time/26S 44W”
& “Here we compleated our Water/26S 20W” (Jan 1773)
“Here we parted company….” And “The Resolutions
Track after we parted Company on the 8 of February 1773”.
A
Mercator’s Chart
On his second voyage Cook arrived at New Caledonia on 4th
September 1774 and anchored at Balade. He explored inland, climbed Mount Vengaya,
and observed an eclipse of the sun from Poudiou Island (Observatory Island).
“I believe we have nearly determined the extent of this Land having
seen the sea on the opposite side when we first anchord and now find the south
side to take the same direction as the North. It appears a chain of mountains
extending NW and SE about 95 Leagues environ’d with little Islands, reefs,
shoals &c…”
(Gilbert, Journal, 30th September 1774)
Caledonia
Cook left South America in early January 1775 and set off
across the southern Atlantic for Cape Town, South Africa. On the way he tried
to confirm the location of a number of islands charted by Alexander Dalrymple
on an earlier voyage. On 17 January 1775 Cook arrived at the cold, bleak, glaciated
island he called South Georgia and spent 3 days charting it before sailing on.
Isle
of Georgia
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