Science and Exploration in the Pacific - European Voyages to the Southern Oceans in the 18th Century; Margarette Lincoln ed.; Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 1998; ISBN 0-85115-721-1; £35.00; CA 15445

These fascinating short papers were prepared for a conference in 1997 to mark the voyage of a replica of Cook's Endeavour to Tahiti and the Pacific.

Although timed to observe the passage of Venus across the sun in order to estimate the distance from the earth to the sun, the major interest of Cook's voyage to the government was trade, and especially competition with the Spanish trade to South America, with exploration, botany, science and missionary work of additional concern. Indeed, William Ellis of the London Missionary Society seemed much more interested in studying the Polynesian population than in conversation, and Joseph Bank's scientific work was much concerned with the commercial advantages and problems of sea borne transportation of useful plants.

The last two papers are especially interesting. They are verbose and slightly tedious as is to be expected when sociologists comment on sodomy in the British Navy and anti-aboriginal racism in Australia, but I was left with a deep concern that it is inappropriate to judge the behaviour of Europeans two hundred years ago by the moral standards of the late 20th century. As you put the book down you will, I hope, say " Come back, Cook. All is forgiven." -OLW

Page prepared 17 May 1999

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