The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World, Vol. III. Being the First of the Second Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
The island of Otaheite which, in the years 1767 and 1768, as it were,
swarmed with hogs and fowls, was now so ill supplied with these animals,
that hardly any thing could induce the owners to part with them. The few
they had at this time among them, seemed to be at the disposal of the
kings; for while we lay at Oaitipiha Bay, in the kingdom of Tiarrabou,
or lesser Peninsula, every hog or fowl we saw, we were told, belonged to
Waheatooa; and all we saw in the kingdom of Opoureonu, or the greater
Peninsula, belonged to Otoo. During the seventeen days we were at this
island, we got but twenty-four hogs; the half of which came from the two
kings themselves; and, I believe, the other half was sold us by their
permission or order: we were, however, abundantly supplied with all the
fruits the island produces, except bread-fruit, which was not in season
either at this or the other isles. Cocoa-nuts and plantains were what we
got the most of; the latter, together with a few yams and other roots,
were to us a succedaneum for bread. At Otaheite we got great plenty of
apples, and a fruit like a nectarine, called by them _Aheeya_. This
fruit was common to all the isles; but apples we got only at Otaheite,
and found them of infinite use to the scorbutic people. Of all the seeds
that have been brought to these islands by Europeans, none have
succeeded but pumpkins, and these they do not like; which is not to be
wondered at.
The scarcity of hogs at Otaheite may be owing to two causes; first, the
number which have been consumed and carried off by the shipping which
have touched here of late years; and, secondly, to the frequent wars
between the two kingdoms. We know of two since the year 1767: at present
a peace subsists between them, though they do not seem to entertain much
friendship for each other. I never could learn the cause of the late
war, nor who got the better in the conflict. In the battle, which put an
end to the dispute, many were killed on both sides. On the part of
Opoureonu, fell Toutaha, and several other chiefs, who were mentioned to
me by name. Toutaha lies interred in the family _marai_ at Oparree; and
his mother, and several other women who were of his household, are now
taken care of by Otoo the reigning prince; a man who, at first, did not
appear to us to much advantage. I know but little of Waheatooa of
Tiarrabou. This prince, who is not above twenty years of age, appeared
with all the gravity of a man of fifty. His subjects do not uncover
before him, or pay him any outward obeisance, as is done to Otoo;
nevertheless, they seem to show him full as much respect, and he
appeared in rather more state. He was attended by a few middle-aged or
elderly men, who seemed to be his counsellors. This is what appeared to
me to be the then state of Otaheite. The other islands, that is,
Huaheine, Ulietea, and Otaha, were in a more flourishing state than they
were when I was there before. Since that time, they had enjoyed the
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