The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)Phillip, Arthur
History
The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)
Phillip, Arthur
Natural history -- Australia -- New South Wales; New South Wales -- Discovery and exploration; Norfolk Island
natives on Point Venus, and round the beach, and several canoes put off
from the shore, the Indians waving pieces of white cloth and making signs
for them to come into the bay. When anchored they had only three men in
one watch, and two in the other besides the mates, and two of these
ailing; the rest of the crew were in a truly deplorable state.
Their first care was naturally to procure some refreshments, and it was a
pleasing circumstance for them to see the natives flock round the ship,
calling out "Tayo Tayo," which signifies friends; and "Pabii no Tutti,"
Cook's ship; and bringing in very great plenty cocoa nuts, bread-fruit,
plantains and taro, and a fruit known by the name of the Otaheite apple;
they also brought some hogs and fowls. All the Indians appeared glad to
see them, and disposed of their various commodities on very moderate
terms, and indeed their whole behaviour indicated the most friendly
intentions. In the evening, the Chief of Matavai came on board, and in
him Lieutenant Watts recollected an old friend: the Chief was greatly
pleased to see Mr. Watts, as he was the only person in the ship who had
been here before, except the steward, who had been before the mast in the
Resolution; therefore, when Mona (which was the chief's name) saw his old
acquaintance, he explained to his companions who he was, and that he had
been with Capt. Cook, and they seemed very glad to have some of their old
visitors again. Mr. Watts learnt from Mona, that O'too was still living,
that he was always called Earee Tutti, and then was absent on a visit to
the eastward, but expected to return in four or five days: At the same
time, he said, messengers had been sent to acquaint him of the ship's
arrival. He also informed Mr. Watts, that Maheine, the chief of Eimeo, to
retaliate the mischief done him by Capt. Cook, had, after the departure
of the Resolution and Discovery from the islands, landed in the night at
Oparree, and destroyed all the animals and fowls he could lay hold of,
and that O'too was obliged to fly to the mountains. He likewise intimated
that the Attahooroo men joined Maheine in this business. Indeed, it
occurred to Mr. Watts, that when here in the Resolution, Toha, the chief
of that district, threatened something of the kind in a quarrel with
O'too, and probably smothered his resentment only for a time, fearful of
Capt. Cook revenging it, should it come to his knowledge.
11 July 1788
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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