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
On 6th June they sailed for Tongatabu again, accompanied by some sailing
canoes which could all easily outdistance the two ships. A good anchorage
was found, and Cook's old friends, Otago and Toobough, were soon on board
to greet them. As it was proposed to make a short stay, the cattle were
landed, the observatory set up, and the sail-makers set to work to
overhaul the sails, for much-required repairs. Cook speaks very highly of
the orderly behaviour of the natives, many of whom had never seen a white
man before. Hearing much of an important chief named Mariwaggee, Cook
persuaded the king to escort a party to his residence, which was found to
be pleasantly situated on an inlet where most of the chiefs resided,
surrounded by neatly fenced plantations; but they were informed that
Mariwaggee had gone to see the ships. This was found to be untrue, but
the next day he appeared, accompanied by a large number of both sexes,
and Cook at once landed with some presents for him, only to find he was
accompanied by another chief, to whom something had to be given as well.
Fortunately the two were easily satisfied, and the present was divided
between them. Mariwaggee was found to be the father of Feenough, and the
father-in-law of the king. He gave a grand entertainment of singing and
dancing in honour of the strangers, which commenced about eleven in the
morning and lasted till between three and four in the afternoon, and
wound up with a presentation of a large number of yams, each pair of the
roots being tied to a stick about six feet long, and decorated with fish.
Cook says it was hard to say which was the most valuable, the yams for
food or the sticks for firewood; but, as for the fish, "it might serve to
please the sight, but was very offensive to the smell, as some of it had
been kept two or three days for this occasion." More singing and dancing
then took place, and then the English gave a display of fireworks, which
"astonished and highly entertained" the natives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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