James Cook

I was nearly pushed over by the cold winds of The English Channel. Steadying myself, I averted my attention, from my thoughts to the crowds that had come. For weeks now, Plymouth, the dock we had been in, had almost been ghostly. And now people from all over Great Britain, and even some from other nations, had come to see our the HMS Endeavour off. My thoughts were rudely interrupted by a loud bell. Suddenly I was shoved back into reality. That bell signaled our departure. Bellowing Channel winds inflated our sails,and we soon set off. As I gazed back at Plymouth one more time, I could see my friends and family waving, all with a tear in their eyes. A small part of me felt that I would never see England again.

I am Zachary Hickes.

John Gore and I are the lieutenants of Captain James Cook in his Voyage to The South Seas

And this my story.

1 year later

It was hot day on the deck. I had be assigned the duty of keeping watch for ships until Alex got well. The waters where almost silent, it was smooth sailing, but there were storm clouds forming on the horizon, which worried me. I wrenched myself from my post and walked to my cabin. The heat had made my mouth go painfully dumb. My mind was dead set on the sweltering heat. I opened the barrel that was meant to sustain us with water for 2 more weeks.

There was nothing.

Since we had departed Ghana our supplies had comprised of crackers, and our water had turned to slurry. Word spread fast. An unnatural silence swept over the ship.

Already 5 men had died on full supplies, and now we were bone dry.

I estimated that, if the wind continued being this way, calm and silent, it would take 3 weeks to get to Zanzibar ,with only 5 days worth of supplies we had bartered for the following day.

Would we survive?

I was exhausted. Yes we had, survived against all odds, but the sickening feeling I felt was overwhelming. Many, many months ago, the weather had cleared, and we got to East Africa on our last crumbs. Stocking our our ship to the brim, we set on our longest trip yet.

The Indian Ocean.

1 ½ year later

Of all the sights we have seen, this has outdone them all. We had landed on a region comprised of two large islands the natives called “Aotearoa”.

The fresh forest smell was addictive, the views, awe inspiring, the sky, crystal blue, the waters calmer than I have seen In years. Not to mention the natives. These Polynesians have been more than accommodating. Their culture is beautiful; singing and dancing, with gods of earth and sky But they were not unlike European nations. They fight and war with each other., The tribe we met was curious about our weapons.

The important thing, I thought to myself, is I had a short time on land. And i need to get supplies. But the captain has been so fascinated that we will stay in this land until next week! I have some doubts though, the mapper is quite drunk. Once refreshed, we continue for home

This is Captain James Cook.

My friend Mr Hickes, died yesterday,two weeks out from London, from injuries and sickness he got Africa from Plymouth, and did not tell me.

I have entered this in this Diary he has kept to give to his family.