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
In the evening, an elderly chief, who went by the name of Tutti, and whom
Mr. Watts recollected to have frequently seen with Captain Cook, came on
board; he confirmed the reports they had heard at Otaheite, and told
them, that after Omai had got perfectly settled, he found himself under
the necessity of purchasing a great quantity of cloth, and other
necessaries, for himself and family, of which his neighbours took
advantage, and made him pay extravagantly for every article he purchased;
that he frequently visited Uliatea, and never went empty handed, so that
by these means he expended much of his treasure: he died at his own
house, as did the New Zealand boys, but in what order their deaths had
happened, Tutti could not give information. Upon Omai's decease, the
Uliatea men came over and attacked them for his property, alledging that
as he was a native of their island they had an undoubted right to it.
Tutti said they carried away a considerable part of his remaining
property, and particularly his musquets, the stocks of which they broke,
and took the powder and buried it in the sand: he added, that the
conflict had been very fierce, and that great numbers were slain on both
sides, nor were they friends even at this time. Three of the natives who
came on board, had the os frontis fractured in a terrible manner, but
they were then perfectly recovered of their wounds. The house that
Captain Cook had built for Omai was still in being, and was covered by a
very large one built after the country fashion; it was taken possession
of by the chief of the island. With respect to the horses, the mare had
foaled, but died soon afterwards, as did the foal, the horse was still
living though of no benefit: thus were rendered fruitless the benevolent
intentions of his Majesty, and all the pains and trouble Captain Cook had
been at in preserving the cattle, during a tedious passage to these
islands.
2 August 1788-24 August 1788
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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