19 events the sources record for this year, grouped by region.
What happened
China (1)
Orders construction of Jwahyeon Fortress at Namdang; orders congratulatory gifts sent to the queen on New Year and Winter Solstice (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty 英祖實錄 四十四年 · 英祖實錄 75책 111권 42장 A면 · 기사 wua_14412012_001)
Korean Peninsula (1)
Relief for people who drifted from China (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty 英祖實錄 四十四年 · 英祖實錄 75책 111권 33장 A면 · 기사 wua_14411015_003)
Sub-Saharan Africa (3)
Passed Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Islands at 3–4 miles, keeping along its east coast. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 2734행 (1768-09-30))
Baba Zaki attacks Birnin Auyau but cannot take it, then raids Burumburumi, seizes the inhabitants and beheads them. (Kano Chronicle Palmer 1908, Kano Chronicle §XLI Babba Zaki, p.92)
A guard of riflemen is established in Kano for the first time (and becomes the custom thereafter). (Kano Chronicle Palmer 1908, Kano Chronicle §XLI Babba Zaki, p.92)
Southern Europe (4)
Sighted Finisterre and Ortegal, the headlands at Spain's north-west end; much water came in through the ship's upper works, so the sails were dried. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 2490행 (1768-09-02))
The north-east end of Tenerife was seen 3–4 leagues to the west; by reckoning the latitude was 28°27′. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 2677행 (1768-09-24))
Western Europe (2)
Leaving the Downs, sailed for Plymouth (at noon South Foreland bore N.E. ½ N., 6–7 miles). (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 2341행 (1768-08-08))
Anchored in 9 fathoms at the entrance of Plymouth Sound, then moved to an inner anchorage; the same entry records Banks and Solander's party coming aboard. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 2370행 (1768-08-14))
To replenish food and livestock, they decided to call at Rio de Janeiro rather than another Brazilian port or the Falklands. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 3124행 (1768-11-06))
Land of Brazil seen at NW ½ N, 8–10 leagues; from a fishing boat they heard that the land lay south of Santo Espiritu. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 3145행 (1768-11-08))
Anchored in 5 fathoms off Cobras Island at Rio; the viceroy held an officer until Cook's landing. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 3260행 (1768-11-14))
On trying to leave the bay, Fort Santa Cruz fired two shots to stop them; no order to pass had been given. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 3466행 (1768-12-05))
Equator ceremony: by custom, anyone who could not prove on the chart that he had crossed the line before must pay for a bottle of rum. (Captain Cook's Journal (First Voyage) 원문 3007행 (1768-10-26))