The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. I. Being the First of the First Voyage.Cook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. I. Being the First of the First Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
About three o’clock in the afternoon three canoes came up to the ship
with between thirty and forty people on board, who had been pulling
after us with great labour and perseverance for some time: they appeared
to be more cleanly, and a better class, than any we had met with since
we left the Bay of Islands; and their canoes were also distinguished by
the same ornaments which we had seen upon the northernly part of the
coast. They came on board with very little invitation; and their
behaviour was courteous and friendly. Upon receiving presents from us,
they made us presents in return, which had not been done by any of the
natives that we had seen before. We soon perceived that our guests had
heard of us, for as soon as they came on board, they asked for _Whow_,
the name by which nails were known among the people with whom we had
trafficked: but though they had heard of nails, it was plain they had
seen none; for when nails were given them, they asked Tupia what they
were. The term _Whow_, indeed, conveyed to them the idea not of their
quality, but only of their use; for it is the same by which they
distinguish a tool, commonly made of bone, which they use both as an
auger and a chisel. However, their knowing that we had _whow_ to sell,
was a proof that their connections extended as far north as Cape
Kidnappers, which was distant no less than forty-five leagues; for that
was the southernmost place on this side the coast where we had had any
traffic with the natives. It is also probable, that the little knowledge
which the inhabitants of Queen Charlotte’s Sound had of iron, they
obtained from their neighbours at Tierawitte; for we had no reason to
think that the inhabitants of any part of this coast had the least
knowledge of iron or its use before we came among them, especially as,
when it was first offered, they seemed to disregard it as of no value.
We thought it probable, that we were now once more in the territories of
Teratu; but upon enquiring of these people, they said that he was not
their king. After a short time, they went away, much gratified with the
presents that we had made them; and we pursued our course along the
shore to the N. E. till eleven o’clock the next morning. About this
time, the weather happening to clear up, we saw Cape Turnagain, bearing
N. by E. ½ E. at the distance of about seven leagues: I then called the
officers upon deck, and asked them, whether they were not now satisfied
that Eahienomauwe was an island: they readily answered in the
affirmative; and all doubts being now removed, we hauled our wind to the
eastward.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
Printed by A. and R. Spottiswoode,
Printers-Street, London.
Footnote 1:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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