Captain Samuel Wallis in command of theDolphin, along with the Swallowcommanded by Philip Carteret were given the objective of sailing around Cape Horn and through the Strait of Magellan: the most southern points of South America. They were then to travel westward in search of land that was thought to lie between Cape Horn and New Zealand. The journey through the Straits was undertaken under very trying conditions. The strong westerly winds and stormy waters resulted in the two ships becoming separated. The Dolphin took a northerly route across the Pacific through the Society Islands, Wallis Island then north to the Gilbert and Marshall Islands whereas the Swallow travelled south of Easter Island to Pitcairn then north of the Fijian Islands and New Caledonia through to the Solomon Islands. The crews of both vessels ended their travels at Batavia.