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
Zimmerman, in his Zoologia Geographica, p. 527, confounds the Kanguroo
with the great Jerboa of Africa, described by Allamand, in his additions
to Buffon; and by Mr. Pennant, History of Quadrupeds, p. 432. No. 293.
Our own plate of the Kanguroo very accurately expresses the form and
character of that animal, and is deficient only in the position, which
unfortunately was not remarked till the plate was worked off, and the
book almost ready for delivery.
ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN COOK AND O'TOO.
As nothing can be devoid of interest which relates to a man so justly
admired as Captain Cook, the reader will probably be pleased to find
here, though out of its proper place, an anecdote communicated by Mr.
Webber. It exhibits in a pleasing point of view the friendship which
subsisted between that great navigator and the Otaheitean chief O'too, a
circumstance highly to the honour of both; since it displays in them the
power of discerning real merit, though obscured by diversity of manners,
and that of being able to impress a steady attachment, where nothing more
was to be expected than transient regard. Under every species of
disparity, goodness of heart supplies both a medium of attraction, and an
indissoluble bond of union.
Every reader must have seen with pleasure the charming proof of O'too's
tender and inviolable friendship for Captain Cook, which appears in page
233 of this work; where he is described as attended by a man carrying the
portrait of that illustrious Englishman, without which he never moves
from one place to another. That portrait, as Mr. Webber assures us, was
obtained in the following manner.
O'too, by the Captain's particular desire, sat to Mr. Webber, in order to
furnish such a memorial of his features, as might serve for the subject
of a complete whole length picture, on the return of the ship to England.
When the portrait was finished, and O'too was informed that no more
sittings would be necessary, he anxiously enquired of Captain Cook, and
Captain Clerke, what might be the particular meaning and purpose of this
painting. He was informed, that it would be kept by Captain Cook, as a
perpetual memorial of his person, his friendship, and the many favours
received from him. He seemed pleased with the idea, and instantly
replied, that, for the very same reasons, a picture of Captain Cook would
be highly acceptable to him. This answer, so unexpected, and expressed
with strong tokens of real attachment, made both Captain Clerke and Mr.
Webber his advocates; and Captain Cook, charmed with the natural
sincerity of his manner, complied with his request much more readily than
on any other occasion he would have granted such a favour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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