The Life of Captain James Cook, the CircumnavigatorKitson, Arthur
History
The Life of Captain James Cook, the Circumnavigator
Kitson, Arthur
Cook, James, 1728-1779; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Geographers -- Great Britain -- Biography
The king gave a theatrical entertainment in honour of their arrival, at
which his sister was the only female performer. It had some reference to
the coming of the ships, but they were not able to follow the thread of
the story. Cook could see that Otoo was nervous and uncomfortable, and
felt dissatisfied with his reception, so determined to cut short his
stay. No one could understand the reason of the unsatisfactory feeling,
but Forster suggests that it was owing to the advice of a Spanish
deserter, who had left his ship about March 1773. This vessel was
commanded by Don Juan de Langara y Huarto, and was from Callao; her
voyage has not been published, but the natives gave Forster to understand
that four of her sailors had been hanged on her arrival. Cook refers to
the presence of a white man, who, when he thought he had been observed,
disappeared and was not seen again. Young Forster made an attempt to
explore the interior, but finding the climbing more difficult than he
expected, soon returned. In the gardens which had been planted at the
Endeavour's visit, pumpkins seemed to be the only things which had done
well, and for these the natives did not care, "which is not to be
wondered at," says Cook. Further enquiries as to the religious ceremonies
were made, but nothing very definite was ascertained; it appeared that on
very rare occasions special criminals, selected by the high priest, were
sacrificed at the Moris. Cook also formed the opinion that the standard
of morality amongst the women was much higher than had previously been
admitted.
Sailing with a favourable wind on 1st September for Huaheine, the
Adventure ran ashore going through the reef, but with the assistance of
the Resolution's boats, she was soon towed off without serious damage.
Forster, as usual, tries to cause trouble by declaring that Cook would
not send assistance till the Resolution was safely anchored, and thus
added to the danger of his consort. As the boats were in the water before
the accident occurred, in order to render immediate assistance if
required, Mr. Forster's story is too thin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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