satisfied.
A visit to the west coast was, it is true, paid by the English
navigator, Dampier, and his buccaneers, in 1688, but only for the
purpose of careening and refitting, which he did in about 16° south
latitude. Dampier afterwards revisited Australia in his Majesty's ship
Roebuck, but added nothing to the store of maritime knowledge.
The
first connected outline of the shore was published in 1663, in
Thevenot's chart of the west coast. In this chart the country is called
Hollaudia Nova, and of this information there is no doubt Dampier
availed himself.
The
next most important event relative to Australian discovery, and that
which immediately led to the occupation of the country as a British
colony, was the visit of the English navigator Cook, during his first
voyage round the world, which was undertaken, by order of George the
Third, for the purpose of making discoveries in the southern
hemisphere, tending to the advantage of future navigators. The Endeavour, a
barque of 300 tons, was equipped and heavily armed for the purpose; and
Cook having been appointed to the vessel, several eminent men of
science, aware of his previous reputation, applied to him for
permission to accompany the expedition. The most noted of these was Mr.
Banks, a gentleman of fortune, afterwards Sir Joseph Banks, who,
setting at nought the difficulties and dangers of such a voyage,
determined to sacrifice his ease to a love of scientific investigation.
With him was" associated Dr. So-lander, a Swede, and pupil of Linnaeus.
The object of these gentlemen was to obtain a knowledge of unknown
plants and productions which might promise to be of general utility.
On the 26th of August 1769, the Endeavour sailed
out of Plymouth harbour, and on the 19th of April 1770 the first land
of New Holland was descried, and named by Captain Cook " Point Hicks,"
from the name of the first lieutenant, who discovered it. This point
lies a short distance to the southward of Cape Howe, in the district
now called Gipps Land.
Capt. Cook did not, however, land here; but proceeded along the coast, in the direction of Botany Bay, where he first lauded.
