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
On the 17th I went ashore to look for the chief, in order to complain of
the outrage committed as above; but he was not in the neighbourhood.
Being ashore in the afternoon, a person came and told me Oree wanted to
see me. I went with the man, and was conducted to a large house, where
the chief, and several other persons of note, were assembled, in
council, as well as I could understand. After I was seated, and some
conversation had passed among them, Oree made a speech, and was answered
by another. I understood no more of either, than just to know it
regarded the robbery committed the day before. The chief then began to
assure me, that neither he, nor any one present (which were the
principal chiefs in the neighbourhood) had any hand in it; and desired
me to kill, with the guns, all those which had. I assured him that I was
satisfied that neither he, nor those present, were at all concerned in
the affair; and that I should do with the fellows as he desired, or any
others who were guilty of the like crimes. Having asked where the
fellows were, and desired they would bring them to me that I might do
with them as he had said; his answer was, they were gone to the
mountains, and he could not get them. Whether this was the case or not,
I will not pretend to say. I knew fair means would never make them
deliver them up; and I had no intention to try others. So the affair
dropt, and the council broke up.
In the evening, some of the gentlemen went to a dramatic entertainment.
The piece represented a girl as running away with us from Otaheite;
which was in some degree true; as a young woman had taken a passage with
us down to Ulietea, and happened now to be present at the representation
of her own adventures; which had such an effect upon her, that it was
with great difficulty our gentlemen could prevail upon her to see the
play out, or to refrain from tears while it was acting. The piece
concluded with the reception she was supposed to meet with from her
friends at her return; which was not a very favourable one. These people
can add little extempore pieces to their entertainments when they see
occasion. Is it not then reasonable to suppose that this was intended as
a satire against this girl, and to discourage others from following her
steps?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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