The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
We stayed here till the evening, when, having loaded the rest of the
boats with grass, celery, scurvy-grass, &c. we embarked to return to the
ships. We had prevailed upon Pedro to launch his canoe, and accompany
us; but we had scarcely put off from the shore, when the wind began to
blow very hard at north-west, which obliged him to put back. We
proceeded ourselves, but it was with a good deal of difficulty that we
could reach the ships; where some of the boats did not arrive till one
o’clock the next morning; and it was fortunate that they got on board
then, for it afterward blew a perfect storm, with abundance of rain, so
that no manner of work could go forward that day. In the evening the
gale ceased, and the wind having veered to the east, brought with it
fair weather.
The next day we resumed our works; the natives ventured out to catch
fish; and Pedro, with all his family, came and took up his abode near
us. This chief’s proper name is Matahouah; the other being given him by
some of my people during my last voyage, which I did not know till now.
He was, however, equally well known amongst his countrymen by both
names.
On the 20th, in the forenoon, we had another storm from the north-west.
Though this was not of so long continuance as the former, the gusts of
wind from the hills were far more violent, insomuch that we were obliged
to strike the yards and top-masts to the very utmost; and, even with all
this precaution, it was with difficulty that we rode it out. These
storms are very frequent here, and sometimes violent and troublesome.
The neighbouring mountains, which at these times are always loaded with
vapours, not only increase the force of the wind, but alter its
direction in such a manner, that no two blasts follow each other from
the same quarter; and the nearer the shore, the more their effects are
felt.
The next day we were visited by a tribe or family, consisting of about
thirty persons, men, women, and children, who came from the upper part
of the Sound. I had never seen them before. The name of their chief was
Tomatongeauooranuc; a man of about forty-five years of age, with a
cheerful open countenance. And, indeed, the rest of his tribe were, in
general, the handsomest of the New Zealand race I had ever met with.
By this time more than two-thirds of the inhabitants of the Sound had
settled themselves about us. Great numbers of them daily frequented the
ships, and the encampment on shore: but the latter became, by far, the
most favourite place of resort, while our people there were melting some
seal blubber. No Greenlander was ever fonder of train-oil, than our
friends here seem to be. They relished the very skimmings of the kettle,
and dregs of the casks; but a little of the pure stinking oil was a
delicious feast, so eagerly desired, that I supposed it is seldom
enjoyed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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