Oct. 25, 1788
Home
Logbook Remarks GM
Oct. 27, 1788
Revised Jun 8 2021
1:00 pm Fine Weather and a pleasant Trade. At 52′ past Noon the Body of Maitea S½E 3 Miles.
4:00 pm Maitea E½S 5 leagues.
6:00 pm Saw the South East part of Otaheite W¾S and Maitea E½S 8 leagues.
8:00 pm At 7 the North part of Otaheite true W½N:
12:00 am In Steering Sails and left orders to run on untill the log gave us 25 leagues from Maitea.
4:00 am Stood to the North under the Topsails.
6:00 am Made Sail. Point Venus SWBW 4 leagues.
8:00 am Hauled in for Matavai when Meeting Variable Winds & Calms I was obliged to Anchor in 13 fathoms West part of One Tree Hill SBE½E 1 Mile and Point Venus NE½E.
12:00 pm Fair Weather and a strong Trade. Could not move the
Ship. Vast Numbers of Natives with Hogs Bread Fruit & Cocoa Nutts.
Served Fruit to
the People as much as they could eat.
I had no sooner got round the Reef of Point Venus than I was visited by a great number of Cannoes. Their first enquiries were if we were Tyos or Friends, and whether we came from Pretanee, which signifies Britain, or Rima which is Lima. I had no sooner satified them in this, than they crouded on board in vast numbers notwithstanding my endeavors to the contrary as I was working the Ship in; and in ten Minutes I could scarce find my own people. When I thought it very certain to have got well into the Bay it fell quite calm & I was obliged to Anchor in 13 fathoms abreast of One Tree Hill. Several large Cannoes came off and several inferior Cheifs to whom I made freindly and liberal presents and received of two of the Cheifs a present of a Hog each and some Bread fruit and Cocoa Nuts. Cocoa Nuts were innumerable but the Breadfruit scarce. I enquired after Otoo, but could get no Satisfactory accounts of him, but by what I could understand, he was from home, and would be here in three or four days.
Captain Cook was the first person asked after, and they said a Ship had been here who had told them he was dead, that the Ship had Sailed by some accounts 4 Months, and others only three and stayed here one Month, and they called the Captain Tonah. Sir Joseph Banks, Dr Solander, several others who were here in the Endeavor, and in the last Voyage particularly Mr Williamson and the Serjeant of Marines were enquired after. Mr. Nelson reported me to be the Son of Captain Cook, whose death I had given orders, no one should speak of, and it seemed to please them very much. Omai and the Eldest New Zealand Boy they said were dead, and on enquiring if it was from being at War, they all said no, but that dyed of Epay no Etua, and the other from the Epay no Tettee, who they said was also a God, which proves that their mortal diseases are classed with their different Gods. All of the Natives behaved very honest and very glad to see us.
Oct. 25, 1788
Home
Logbook Remarks GM
Oct. 27, 1788