He was therefore 30 years of age when he made this voyage.) Flinders was, it has been said, the nautical grandson of Cook.

How thoroughly he followed the example of the great sailor is apparent from the lines upon which he managed his ship and governed his crew.

This is what he was able to write of the voyage down to the Cape of Good Hope, reached on October 16th: "At this time we had not a single person in the sick list, both officers and men being fully in as good health as when we sailed from Spithead.

I had begun very early to put in execution the beneficial plan first practised and made known by the great Captain Cook.
It was in the standing orders of the ship, that on every fine day the deck below and the cockpit should be cleaned, washed, aired with stoves, and sprinkled with vinegar.

On wet and dull days they were cleaned and aired, without washing.