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
Whilst anchored here, a large sailing canoe arrived, having on board a
chief who was treated by the natives with the utmost respect, and the
visitors were given to understand that Tattafee Polaho was the king of
all the islands. He was invited on board, and brought with him as a
present:
"two good fat hogs, though not so fat as himself, for he was the most
corporate, plump fellow we had met with. I found him to be a sedate,
sensible man; he viewed the ship and the several new objects with
uncommon attention, and asked several pertinent questions."
In return Cook was invited ashore, and when they were seated, the natives
who had been trading submitted the articles they had received for
Polaho's inspection, who enquired what each one had sold, and seemed
pleased with the bargains made. Everything was returned to its owner,
excepting a red glass bowl to which the king had taken a great fancy.
According to Mr. Basil Thomson, who was for some years in the Pacific
Islands, a red glass bowl was given by the King of Tonga to the notorious
Mr. Shirley Baker, as a relic of Captain Cook, but was unfortunately
broken in New Zealand. It was most probably the one in question. Before
leaving, Polaho presented Cook with one of the red feather caps made from
the tail feathers of the bird the Sandwich Islanders call Iiwi (Vestiaria
coicinea), which were evidently considered of extreme value. At the same
time he gave Cook, Clerke, and Omai some of the red feathers of paraquets
which, though much in demand, were not to be purchased.
On 29th May they sailed for Tongatabu, but, the wind failing, they nearly
ran ashore on the 31st on a low sandy island on which the sea was
breaking very heavily. Fortunately all hands had just been engaged in
putting the ship about, "so that the necessary movements were not only
executed with judgment but with alertness, and this alone saved the
ship." Cook confesses that he was tired of beating about in these
dangerous waters, and felt relieved to get back to his old anchorage off
Annamooka. Feenough here rejoined the ship, and his behaviour before
Polaho was sufficient evidence as to the high position held by the
latter, for he made a deep reverence to him, and afterwards would not eat
or drink in his presence, but left the cabin as soon as dinner was
announced.
AN ENTERTAINMENT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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