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 right or left, either the one or the other was easily turned off
with great ease. I thought that when one combatant had parried off the
blows, &c. of the other, he did not use the advantage which seemed to me
to accrue. As, for instance; after he had parried off a dart, he still
stood on the defensive, and suffered his antagonist to take up another,
when I thought there was time to run him through the body. These
combatants had no superfluous dress upon them; an unnecessary piece of
cloth or two which they had on when they began, were presently torn off
by the bystanders, and given to some of our gentlemen present. This
being over, the fleet departed; not in any order, but as fast as they
could be got afloat; and we went with Otoo to one of his dock-yards,
where the two large _pahies_ or canoes were building, each of which was
an hundred and eight feet long, they were almost ready to launch, and
were intended to make one joint double _pahie_ or canoe. The king begged
of me a grappling and rope, to which I added an English jack and pendant
(with the use of which he was well acquainted), and desired the _pahie_
might be called Britannia. This he very readily agreed to; and she was
named accordingly. After this he gave me a hog, and a turtle of about
sixty pounds weight, which was put privately into our boat; the giving
it away not being agreeable to some of the great lords about him, who
were thus deprived of a feast. He likewise would have given me a large
shark they had prisoner in a creek (some his fins being cut off so that
he could not make his escape), but the fine pork and fish we had got at
this isle, had spoiled our palates for such food. The king, and his
prime minister Tee, accompanied us on board to dinner, and after it was
over, took a most affectionate farewell. He hardly ever ceased
soliciting me, this day, to return to Otaheite; and, just before he went
out of the ship, took a youth by the hand, and presented him to me,
desiring I would keep him on board to go to Amsterdam to collect red
feathers. I told him I could not, since I knew he would never return;
but that, if any ship should happen to come from Britain to this isle, I
would either bring or send him red feathers in abundance. This, in some
measure, satisfied him; but the youth was exceedingly desirous of going;
and, if I had not come to a resolution to carry no one from the isles
(except Oedidee if he chose to go), and but just refused Mr. Forster the
liberty of taking a boy, I believe I should have consented. Otoo
remained along-side in his canoe till we were under sail, when he put
off, and was saluted with three guns.
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