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
supplying the ship with provisions of every kind in the most liberal
manner; and when any of the natives who had come from a considerable
distance, begged his intercession with them on board to take their hogs,
etc. off their hands, which, on account of the few people they had, they
were often obliged, much against their inclination, to refuse, he was
very moderate: indeed, he generally left the matter to themselves, and
whenever he undertook to dispose of another person's property was always
well paid for his trouble. During their stay at Otaheite he daily paid
them a visit, and importuned the Captain very much to move the ship into
the Resolution's old birth: where she then lay, she was nearly in the
situation of the Dolphin on her first anchoring; and though at some
distance from the watering place, yet, considering the small number of
people on board, and their weak situation, the Captain judged it prudent
to remain where he was, as in case of necessity he could put to sea
instantly.
O'too was always accompanied by a woman, whose advice he asked upon every
occasion; she was by no means handsome, neither did she possess that
delicacy, or those engaging manners that so much distinguish her
countrywomen in general: she was of the Earree class, and seemed to have
great authority; but whether or no she was his wife they did not learn,
though Mr. Watts was rather inclined to think they were married, and he
appeared to be greatly attached to her. The king and all the chiefs were
very urgent for Captain Sever to go to Eimeo, and revenge their quarrel,
and several of them offered to get a stock of provisions and accompany
him; however, to this request he gave a positive refusal. About three
days before they quitted Matavai Bay, O'too brought the ring of an anchor
on board, observing it might be made into small hatchets: Mr. Watts upon
examining it, recollected that it certainly belonged to an anchor which
Captain Cook bought of Opooni, at Bola Bola, in 1777: as there was no
forge on board the Lady Penrhyn, the Captain offered O'too three hatchets
for it, which he readily took. When Captain Cook bought the anchor just
mentioned it wanted the ring and one of the palms, and at that time they
knew that it had been carried from Otaheite, and belonged to Mons.
Bougainville: how O'too came by the ring, Mr. Watts could not learn, but
had he possessed it when the Resolution was here, it is reasonable to
suppose he would have brought it to Captain Cook, and the more so as at
that time the natives used to bring many large pieces of iron (which they
had obtained from the Spaniards) to be either worked up or exchanged for
trinkets. Though from the season of the year they had reason to expect a
scarcity of vegetables, yet they were agreably surprised to find them in
the greatest plenty and profusion; hogs were multiplied amazingly, and
from the proceedings of the natives, Mr. Watts was induced to think they
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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