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
The New Zealander paid so little regard to these threats, that he
returned, the next morning, with his whole family, men, women, and
children, to the number of twenty and upwards. Omai was the first who
acquainted me with his being along-side the ship, and desired to know if
he should ask him to come on board. I told him he might; and accordingly
he introduced the chief into the cabin, saying, “There is Kahoora; kill
him!” But, as if he had forgot his former threats, or were afraid that I
should call upon him to perform them, he immediately retired. In a short
time, however, he returned; and seeing the chief unhurt, he expostulated
with me very earnestly, saying, “Why do you not kill him? You tell me,
if a man kills another in England, that he is hanged for it. This man
has killed ten, and yet you will not kill him; though many of his
countrymen desire it, and it would be very good.” Omai’s arguments,
though specious enough, having no weight with me, I desired him to ask
the chief, why he had killed Captain Furneaux’s people? At this
question, Kahoora folded his arms, hung down his head, and looked like
one caught in a trap; and, I firmly believe, he expected instant death.
But no sooner was he assured of his safety, than he became cheerful. He
did not, however, seem willing to give me an answer to the question that
had been put to him, till I had, again and again, repeated my promise
that he should not be hurt. Then he ventured to tell us, that one of his
countrymen having brought a stone-hatchet to barter, the man to whom it
was offered took it, and would neither return it nor give any thing for
it; on which the owner of it snatched up the bread as an equivalent; and
then the quarrel began.
The remainder of Kahoora’s account of this unhappy affair differed very
little from what we had before learned from the rest of his countrymen.
He mentioned the narrow escape he had during the fray, a musket being
levelled at him, which he avoided by skulking behind the boat; and
another man, who stood close to him, was shot dead. As soon as the
musket was discharged, he instantly seized the opportunity to attack Mr.
Rowe, who commanded the party, and who defended himself with his hanger
(with which he wounded Kahoora in the arm), till he was overpowered by
numbers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account