| When looking into the history of world | | | | many islands that dot the ocean. It was during |
| immigration, Australia is one of the most popular | | | | this journey that he also arrived at Botany Bay |
| topics for many people. The country has, in fact, | | | | (which he was the one to name) on the Coast of |
| a long history of travel that dates back well into | | | | New South Wales. Botany Bay would eventually |
| the prehistoric ages. And one should note that it is | | | | be the spot where the expedition of Captain |
| important for those planning to move into the | | | | Arthur Phillip, the founder of Sydney, would |
| country to know even as bit of its history. | | | | eventually land years later. It is also at this point |
| And one of the people that you definitely should | | | | that Cook had the first encounter with Australian |
| be familiar with is Captain James Cook. But who's | | | | Aborigines. |
| Captain James Cook anyway? For those not in | | | | It is at this journey where one of the more |
| the know, Captain Cook s considered as the | | | | popular myths about Cook arose. He was said to |
| discover of the Australian continent. However, | | | | be exploring the banks of the Endevour river, |
| aside from that fact, Cook actually has a very | | | | when he encountered a jumping animal. He was |
| interesting life story. | | | | said to have asked a local Aborigine what it was |
| Born in 1728, Cook was already sailing when he | | | | called, tho which the man answered "Kangaroo", |
| was young. He joined the British merchant navy | | | | which was supposed to have meant "I don't |
| (the collection of merchant ships in the country) | | | | understand you". However, as have been proven |
| when he was still a teenager, he eventually joined | | | | recently by linguists that the word is in fact the |
| the British Royal Navy in 1755. He participated in | | | | term used by Aborigines to refer to the grey |
| the several wars that the British fought during the | | | | kangaroo. |
| period, eventually rising to the ranks to become a | | | | Cook's second voyage explored more of Australia |
| captain of the navy. It is also because of his skills | | | | and nearby New Zealand. It is here that he has |
| during the wars that Cook was eventually | | | | proven that Australia indeed has the size of a |
| commissioned to undertake a series of voyage to | | | | continent. Cook died in his third voyage when he |
| the Pacific. | | | | was killed while fighting with native Hawaiians. |
| The first of his voyages occurred in 1768. it was | | | | Today, he is honored in Australia by the many |
| actually more of an astronomical voyage, as Cook | | | | monuments that are scattered in the major cities, |
| was tasked to observe the transit of the planet | | | | as well as having several towns named after him, |
| Venus across the sun (visible only in this region). | | | | such as Cooktown. |
| However, he was still able to to observe the | | | | |