Inscribed, as title, in the lower margin and signed and dated by the artist in the image l.r, 'W: Ellis fect 1777'. A view by the surgeon's mate of 'Discovery' from Cook's third Pacific voyage (1776-80). It looks roughly north-north-west across the bay from Point Venus towards the main body of the island, with Mount Fautaua rising in the centre. The tents to the left include two astronomers' circular observatory ones, with some of Cook's men around them. Two Tahitians bring food near a canoe at lower centre. 'Resolution' and 'Discovery' lie at anchor in the right distance. The drawing is no. 3.98 (p. 356) in Joppien and Smith's catalogue of drawings from Cook's voyages (vol III [1988]). A near-identical signed version, then in a private collection in Australia is no. 3.97 (p. 355). Ellis's 1782 published account of the voyage (vol 1, p. 133) notes 'As Captain Cook intended to reside here some time, the astronomers tents, instruments, and other apparatus, were got on shore and eracted on point Venus. The ships tents were also pitched, and the marines, with the coopers, and all the empty casks, with various other affairs, were sent on shore.' J&S (p. 355) add Cook's remarks from his journal to similar effect and note others were made by David Samwell and James King. This is one of ten drawings by Ellis in the NMM collection (PAH0144-PAH0153). For notes on him see PAH0144. [PvdM 9/18]