Page 73

Cook's Descriptions of Places

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New Zealand (continued) this Voyage will evidently made [sic] it appear that there is left but a small space to the Southward Northward of 40° where the grand Object can lay, I think it would be a great pitty that this thing which at times has been the dearest object of many ages and Nations should not now be wholy clear'd up, which might very easily be done in one Voyage without either much trouble or danger or fear of misscarrying as the Navigator would know where to go to look for it, but if after all no Continent was to be found than he might turn his thoughts towards the discovery of those multitude of Islands which we are told lay within the Tropical Regions to the South of the line and this we have from very good Authority as I have before hinted. This he will always have in his Power, for unless he be directed to search for the Southern lands in a high Latitude he will not, as we were, be obliged to go farther to the westward in the Latitude of 40° than 140° or 145° West and therefore will always have it in his power to go to Georges Island where he will be sure of meeting with refreshments to rec[r]ute his people Voyaging Accounts © Transcribed from National Library of Australia Manuscript 1 page 219, 2004 Published by South Seas To cite this page use: https://paulturnbull.org/project/southseas/journals/cook_remarks-073