A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook

A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook

By

0
(0 Reviews)
A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook by David Samwell

Published:

1786

Pages:

40

Downloads:

1,138

Share This

A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook

By

0
(0 Reviews)
Mr. Samwell's object is to prove that captain Cook did not lose his life in consequence of inattention, ralhness, or an unwarrantable contempt of the spirit of the islanders; but rom an unfortunate concurrence of circumstances, and the mistake of the gentleman who commanded the launch. The relation of the catastrophe differs in this respect, and in some other less important circumstances, from the narrative of captain King. Mr. Samwell thinks that the jealousy of the natives was not roused by the return of the ships; that the few people seen in the harbour was owing to accident, and the taboo was a necessary ceremony, before the renewal of the commercial and friendly connections.

Book Excerpt

none of those distinguishing marks: the chief then said, that he himself was a Toa (Koa), and showed the scars of some wounds he had received in battle. Those who were on duty at the observatories, were disturbed during the night, with shrill and melancholy sounds, issuing from the adjacent villages, which they took to be the lamentations of the women. Perhaps the quarrel between us, might have filled their minds with apprehensions for the safety of their husbands: but, be that as it may, their mournful cries struck the sentinels with unusual awe and terror.

To widen the breach between us, some of the Indians in the night, took away the "Discovery's" large cutter, which lay swamped at the buoy of one of her anchors: they had carried her off so quietly, that we did not miss her till the morning, Sunday, February the fourteenth. Captain Clerke lost no time in waiting upon Captain Cook, to acquaint him with the accident; he returned on board, with orders for the launch and small cutter to go, under the c

FREE EBOOKS AND DEALS

(view all)