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
An old man, called by Cook Paowang, appeared to be inclined to be
friendly, so Cook landed with a strong party to look for water under his
guidance, and met with some of the elders, exchanging presents with them.
The next day the ship was warped in, and three boats went ashore, but the
natives were very threatening, and after some futile attempts to put
things on a peaceable footing a signal was given to the ship and several
guns were fired, when all the natives ran away except Paowang, who was
suitably rewarded for his confidence. After a time permission was
obtained to get wood, water, and ballast, and whilst trying to lift a
stone out of a pool below high-water mark, one of the crew scalded his
hand badly. The pool proved to be one of a series of springs running down
a spur of the volcano into the sea. Several were tested with the
thermometer, and as much as 202 degrees Fahrenheit was attained. Forster
found a number of cracks on the ridge from which sulphurous vapour and
smoke issued, and one of the crew who had been suffering severely from
rheumatism received great temporary benefit from bathing in one of the
springs.
Many good plantations of yams, sugar-cane, and plantains were seen, but
they could purchase very little as their articles of trade were not
appreciated. The natives did not understand the use of iron, and did not
require cloth as they went almost entirely naked. Though no direct signs
of cannibalism had been found, Cook was convinced that the practice was
not unknown.
After leaving Tanna, the western coasts of the different islands were
followed up till De Bougainville's Passage was reached, when the course
was set for Espiritu Santo. In passing Malicolo canoes put off for the
ship, but the wind being favourable, Cook would not delay, and gave
Forster the opportunity to remark that the main object of the voyage,
i.e. the obtaining a knowledge of the natural history of the islands, was
made subservient to the production of a new track on the chart of the
Southern Hemisphere.
CARDINAL MORAN'S GEOGRAPHY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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