More Pics >> Christopher Columbus and the men who
followed him had discovered the great new world of America, but
Australia was not really discovered until nearly
three hundred years later. Ever since Magellan had sailed through the
Pacific, there had been stories about a great unknown
country in the South. Many
men had searched for this great land, and some Dutch explorers had
landed on the North coast of Australia. But they did
not realize that it was a great
continent, and it was an Englishman, Captain James Cook, who really
discovered
Australia.
In 1768, Cook was chosen by the British Government to explore the Pacific ocean. It was a great work, and it kept him busy for the
rest of his life. He set off in August, 1768, in the Endeavour, sailing west across the Atlantic. Six months later, he had sailed safely through
the dangerous and stormy Straits of Magellan, and, after discovering several small i9slands, he reached the beautiful Pacific island of Tahiti.
After a time, Cook left the Pacific Islands and sailed to New Zealand, which he at first thought to be the great unknown continents for which he was searching. He spent six months exploring the islands. He named the sea passage which ran between them the Cook Strait.
Soon the time came for him to return to England. He wanted to return by the Magellan Straits, but it was winter time. He knew he would meet very stormy weather if he went through the Atlantic Ocean at this time of year, so he decided to go back by the Cape of Good Hope. This was a lucky decision. Sailing west from New Zealand, they soon began to see signs that more land was near. Small land birds floew round the ship, and there were low clouds in the distance. A few days later they reached the east coast of Australia.
This coast had already been discovered by the Dutch and named New Holland, but the coast had never been explored. Cook sailed along it for two thousand miles, landing at several places. He named this part of Australia New South Wales.
At last he sailed home to England, round the Cape of Good Hope, after a voyage of nearly three years.
Cook had many other exploration. One of his discovery was Hawaii. Cook and his men rested for some time in Hawaii, after their sufferings during their long voyage in the far north. The Hawaiians were friendly, and treated Cook like god. At last the two ships left the island, but they soon ran into heavy storms and were forced to return to Hawaii. For some reason the islanders were not so friendly this time. There seemed danger of fights between them and the English sailors, and then the Hawaiians stole one of his small landing boats. Cook was angry. He wished to give the Hawaiians a lesson. He went to the Hawaiian King's hut. He asked the king whether he would go with him as his prisoner until the stolen boat was returned.
The king agreed, but the other islanders were very angry and would not let their king go with Cook. And then Cook's sailors, who were guarding the harbour, fired their guns at some natives boats which tried to pass them, and this made the Hawaiians more angry still.
Captain Cook was usually very fair and patient in his treatment of the islanders, but this time he lost his temper. The Hawaiians began to throw stoned at him and he fired his gun. Then a native put a knife in his back, and Captain Cook fell into the water and was killed.
The other sailors succeeded in returning to their ships, but they were filled with sorrow at the death of their leader. He was a brave man and a great leader, and he was the one of the finest explorers England has ever known.
Australia.
In 1768, Cook was chosen by the British Government to explore the Pacific ocean. It was a great work, and it kept him busy for the
rest of his life. He set off in August, 1768, in the Endeavour, sailing west across the Atlantic. Six months later, he had sailed safely through
the dangerous and stormy Straits of Magellan, and, after discovering several small i9slands, he reached the beautiful Pacific island of Tahiti.
After a time, Cook left the Pacific Islands and sailed to New Zealand, which he at first thought to be the great unknown continents for which he was searching. He spent six months exploring the islands. He named the sea passage which ran between them the Cook Strait.
Soon the time came for him to return to England. He wanted to return by the Magellan Straits, but it was winter time. He knew he would meet very stormy weather if he went through the Atlantic Ocean at this time of year, so he decided to go back by the Cape of Good Hope. This was a lucky decision. Sailing west from New Zealand, they soon began to see signs that more land was near. Small land birds floew round the ship, and there were low clouds in the distance. A few days later they reached the east coast of Australia.
This coast had already been discovered by the Dutch and named New Holland, but the coast had never been explored. Cook sailed along it for two thousand miles, landing at several places. He named this part of Australia New South Wales.
At last he sailed home to England, round the Cape of Good Hope, after a voyage of nearly three years.
Cook had many other exploration. One of his discovery was Hawaii. Cook and his men rested for some time in Hawaii, after their sufferings during their long voyage in the far north. The Hawaiians were friendly, and treated Cook like god. At last the two ships left the island, but they soon ran into heavy storms and were forced to return to Hawaii. For some reason the islanders were not so friendly this time. There seemed danger of fights between them and the English sailors, and then the Hawaiians stole one of his small landing boats. Cook was angry. He wished to give the Hawaiians a lesson. He went to the Hawaiian King's hut. He asked the king whether he would go with him as his prisoner until the stolen boat was returned.
The king agreed, but the other islanders were very angry and would not let their king go with Cook. And then Cook's sailors, who were guarding the harbour, fired their guns at some natives boats which tried to pass them, and this made the Hawaiians more angry still.
Captain Cook was usually very fair and patient in his treatment of the islanders, but this time he lost his temper. The Hawaiians began to throw stoned at him and he fired his gun. Then a native put a knife in his back, and Captain Cook fell into the water and was killed.
The other sailors succeeded in returning to their ships, but they were filled with sorrow at the death of their leader. He was a brave man and a great leader, and he was the one of the finest explorers England has ever known.