Celebrated Travels and Travellers

slands-Stay at Van Diemen's Land-Queen Charlotte's Strait

e Atlantic and the Pacific, by way of the Asiatic or American coasts, was eagerly discussed: and should such a passage exist, was it practicable for

ience of the dangers of the Polar Seas, and one who had shown presence of mind in the face of danger; one moreover, whos

he might have passed the remainder of his days in peace at his post in the Greenwich Observatory, in the full enj

s command. The latter was under the orders of Captain Clerke; and

at New Zealand, if he thought well, to take in refreshments at the Society Islands, and to land the Tahitan Mai there; then to proceed to New Albion, to avoid landing in any of the Spanish possessions in America, and from thence to make his way by the Arctic Ocean to Hudson and B

the 12th of July, 1776, and was rejoined at the Cape by the Discovery on the 10

aged by tempest, she required calking. The captain profited by this long delay, to buy live stock, which he intended

he strait which separates them was crossed, and it was found that their steep sterile coasts were uninhabited. They had been di

e islands which M. de Kerguelen had su

len Is

can reserve them until we relate the adventures of that navigator, and content ourselves with remarking that Cook surveyed the coasts car

ame spot at which Captain Furneaux had touched four years earlier. The English were visited

rrativ

a, but they had not the thick lips or flat noses of African negroes. There was nothing disagreeable in their features, and their eyes struck us as beautiful, so di

ess valuable. The race of Tasmanians is ext

e native ventured to go on board, they were so fully persuaded that the English had come to avenge their murdered comrades. Once convinced that the English had no such intention

lor. At his cry, his companions rushed upon the sailors of the Adventure, who killed two of them, but unfortunately succumbed to numbers. Several of the Zealanders pointe

an who assassinates another; this fello

ts, hoping that these animals might at l

would never see their native land again. But no sooner had the vessels lost sight of the shores of New Zealand than they began to weep. Sea-si

. Small, but vigorous and well-proportioned, they wore their hair knotted upon the top of the head. They wore long beards, an

e of Mangea, and Cook profited by this fact, and landed a detachment under Lieutenant Gore, with Mai as interpreter. An

ers, to the presence of three chiefs, whose ears were adorned with red feathers. They soon perceive

reappeared. They were detained all day, and forced several times to take their clothes off, and allow the natives to examine the colour of their skin; but night arriv

Mai had given of the power of their weapons, and the exp

of his fellow-countrymen

men, all of them half dead, when the pirogue capsized. The unfortunate wretches managed to seize the side of their boat and support themselves in the water until they were picked up by the inhabitants of this island, Wateroo. It was now twelve years si

the globe, and particularly the islands of the Pacific, have been peopled, than in any theories; especi

in 20° 1' south latitude, a

led Wenooa, upon which M. Gore landed to get fodder. Althoug

voyage in 1773. At that time it appeared to him deserted. He was, therefore, astonished to see several

isy offers did not promise wel

ke that of Tahiti, than that of

t succeed in finding a suitable harbour. The natives, armed with s

efreshments for his men and forage for his beasts there. The season was too far advanced, and the distance be

wards Palmerston Island, where he arrived on the 14th of April, and where he found birds in abundance, scurvy grass, and cocoa-nuts. This isla

of April, and the natives brought them quanti

ka, which is also part of the

u, named Finaou, visited Cook. He called

s servants. I paid him a visit after dinner. He came to meet me as soon as he saw me land. He appeared some thir

s reception was friendly, owing to the orders given by Finaou, and where he procured pigs, water, fruits, and

st ceremony, and with as much skill as the men. Their fight lasted about half a minute, when one of them declared herself beaten. The victorious h

y a hundred and five performers, supported by a vocal choir. Cook reciprocated these demonstrations by putting his soldiers thro

ith China roses. This magnificent ballet was followed by another performance by fifteen men. But we shall never end, if we attempt to

nform Cook of his departure for the neighbouring island of Vavaoo. He had excellent reasons f

r in this character, but he soon had irrefutabl

in detail, put judicious questions, and inquired into the motives of the arrival of these vessels. His followers objected to his descending below decks, saying it was "tabu" and that it was not allowed for any one to walk over his head. Cook, however, promised through the interpreter Mai that no on

ka, thence to Tonga Tabou, where a feast or "keiva," more

hem we noticed the arrival of a number of men, who formed a ring within that of the dancing women. Twenty-four men, who executed a third, made a movement with the hands, which was greatly applauded, and which we had not previously see

ok's honou

e way to feed them, and their utility. Before leaving, he visited a cemetery or "Fiatooka," belonging to the king, composed of three good-sized houses, placed on the edge of a sort

one at the entrance, and the other a little within. The natives followed us to the door, but dared not pass the threshold. We asked them the meanin

us islands in the archipelago belonged to the chiefs of Tonga Tabou, which was known as the land of the chiefs. Thus Poulaho had a hundred and fifty islands under his rule. The most import

culars collected by the captain and the naturalist Anderson

rchipelago. But then he did not guess the project entertained by Finaou, and the other chi

we did not know his sincerity, we should be tempted to think that the illu

e's teeth, a custom which explains the many tumours and cicatrices they have on the face. If their friends are dangerously ill, they sacrifi

cance. When they are not allowed to touch anything they say it is tabu. They also told us that if the king enters a

d scatters illness and death. The religious ideas of all the islands are not alike, but the immortality of the soul is unanimous

uence of the English failed to bring the natives on board. Nothing would induce them to leave their boats, and they contented themselves with inviting the strangers to visit them. But as time pressed, and Cook had no need of provisions, he passed the island wi

ed from his compatriots was as indifferent as possible. His brother-in-law, chief Outi, would scarcely consent to recognize him, but when Mai showed him the treasures he brought back

tenderness, and, but for Cook's interference

dainfully received by his friends there also, and although he threw himself at the king's feet, when he presented him with a tuft of red feathers, and three pieces of gold cloth, he was scarcely noticed. But as at Taqabou, the treatment changed suddenly upon the disc

nce of the Atoua or Godon in an expedition against the island of Eimèo, a man of the lowest social rank was killed by blows with clubs in the king's presence. As an offering the hair and one eye of the victim was placed before the king; last signs of t

crifice

e of early

igs. The priests, like the Roman augurs, sought to read the h

l the horror with which it inspired him. Mai interpreted for him,

severe reflection was a little out of place, Cook should have remembered that manners vary with countries. It is absurd to attempt to apply to Tahiti, as punishment for that which is their custom, a punishment reserved in London for what is co

goats, sheep, horses, and cattle. Otoo was at a loss to express his gratitude to the "Areeke no Pretonne," (King of Britain) especially when he found t

y left Tahiti on the 30th of Se

example, Cook burnt five or six cabins, and set fire to a large number of pirogues, threatening the king with his anger if the animal were

a coat of mail, of a complete set of armour, powder, balls, and guns. A portable organ, an electrical machine, fireworks, and domestic and agricultural implements completed the collection of useful and ornamental presents intended to give the Tahitans an idea of European civilization. Mai had a sister mar

nglish, had had their heads shaved and their ears cut. A little later at Raiatea, in order to force the

e, constantly diminished; every day he became more severe

such an affection for the English, that it was necessary to use force, as it were, to land him, amid the most touching demonstrations of affection.

ith some regret, fearing that he might make a bad use of them. The King of Huaheine gave Mai his daughter in marriage and changed his name to Paori, by which he was afterwards known. Mai profited by his high station to show his cruel

ed of supreme authority. Then he went to Bolabole on the 8th of December, and b

chipelago, Cook completed his geographical, hydrographical, and eth

by his entire staff, who invariably showed the greates

hich Cook observed t

e of early

inhabited and the crew obtained abundance of turtle there. It was nam

ly begun. Indeed he had not as yet been able to put the part of his instructions relating to