The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.Cook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
After breakfast, I took a number of hands over to Long-Island, in order
to catch the sow, to put her to the boar, and remove her to some other
place; but we returned without seeing her. Some of the natives had been
there not long before us, as their fires were yet burning; and they had
undoubtedly taken her away. Pedero dined with us, ate of every thing at
table, and drank more wine than any one of us, without being in the
least affected by it.
The 7th, fresh gales at N. E. with continual rain.
The 8th, fore-part rain, remainder fair weather. We put two pigs, a boar
and a sow, on shore, in the cove next without Cannibal Cove; so that it
is hardly possible all the methods I have taken to stock this country
with these animals should fail. We had also reason to believe that some
of the cocks and hens which I left here still existed, although we had
not seen any of them; for an hen’s egg was, some days before, found in
the woods almost new laid.
On the 9th, wind westerly or N. W. squally, with rain. In the morning we
unmoored, and shifted our birth farther out of the cove, for the more
ready getting to sea the next morning; for, at present, the caulkers had
not finished the sides, and till this work was done we could not sail.
Our friends having brought us a very large and seasonable supply of
fish, I bestowed on Pedero a present of an empty oil-jar, which made him
as happy as a prince. Soon after, he and his party left the cove, and
retired to their proper place of abode, with all the treasure they had
received from us. I believe that they gave away many of the things they,
at different times, got from us, to their friends, and neighbours, or
else parted with them to purchase peace of their more powerful enemies;
for we never saw any of our presents after they were once in their
possession; and every time we visited them they were as much in want of
hatchets, nails, &c. to all appearance, as if they never had had any
among them.
I am satisfied that the people in this Sound, who are, upon the whole,
pretty numerous, are under no regular form of government, or so united
as to form one body politic. The head of each tribe, or family, seems to
be respected; and that respect may, on some occasions, command
obedience; but I doubt if any amongst them have either a right or power
to enforce it. The day we were with Tringo-boohee, the people came from
all parts to see us, which he endeavoured to prevent. But though he went
so far as to throw stones at some, I observed that very few paid any
regard either to his words or actions; and yet this man was spoken of as
a chief of some note. I have, before, made some remarks on the evils
attending these people for want of union among themselves; and the more
I was acquainted with them, the more I found it to be so.
Notwithstanding they are cannibals, they are naturally of a good
disposition, and have not a little humanity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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