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
Next morning, we found several articles had been stolen out of our boats
lying at the buoy, about sixty or seventy yards from the ship. As soon
as I was informed of it, I went to the chief to acquaint him therewith.
I found that he not only knew they were stolen, but by whom, and where
they were; and he went immediately with me in my boat in pursuit of
them. After proceeding a good way along shore, towards the south end of
the island, the chief ordered us to land near some houses, where we did
not wait long before all the articles were brought to us, except the
pinnace’s iron tiller, which I was told was still farther off. But, when
I wanted to go after it, I found the chief unwilling to proceed; and he
actually gave me the slip, and retired into the country. Without him I
knew I could do nothing. The people began to be alarmed when they saw I
was for going farther; by which I concluded that the tiller was out of
their reach also. I therefore sent one of them to the chief to desire
him to return. He returned accordingly; when we sat down, and had some
victuals set before us; thinking perhaps that, as I had not breakfasted,
I must be hungry, and not in a good-humour. Thus I was amused till two
hogs were produced, which they intreated me to accept. This I did, and
then their fears vanished; and I thought myself not ill off in having
gotten two good hogs for a thing which seemed to be quite out of my
reach. Matters being thus settled, we returned on board, and had the
company of the chief and his son to dinner. After that we all went
ashore, where a play was acted for the entertainment of such as would
spend their time in looking at it. Besides these plays, which the chief
caused frequently to be acted, there were a set of strolling players in
the neighbourhood, who performed every day. But their pieces seemed to
be so much alike, that we soon grew tired of them; especially as we
could not collect any interesting circumstances from them. We, our ship,
and our country, were frequently brought on the stage; but on what
account I know not. It can hardly be doubted, that this was designed as
a compliment to us, and probably not acted but when some of us were
present. I generally appeared at Oreo’s theatre towards the close of the
play, and twice at the other, in order to give my mite to the actors.
The only actress at Oreo’s theatre was his daughter, a pretty brown
girl, at whose shrine, on these occasions, many offerings were made by
her numerous votaries. This, I believe, was one great inducement to her
father’s giving us these entertainments so often.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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