IN COOK'S DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 11 February 1913, Page 4

IN COOK'S DAY.

WHAT HAPPENED AT SHIP COVE. AN INTERESTING STORY, Captain Jamca Cook did not discover Now Zealand. Ho , first touched land at Poverty Bay on October 8, 17G9. Tasman is usually credited with tho discovery of . this fair land away in 10-12, but t hero is well-founded reason to doubt that ho was the first European to sight these shores. A Fronchmani named do Gonnevillo sailed on a trading cruise to the East Indies from Honfleur in 1503, and, blown by storms out of his course, is said to havo touched at New Zealand, and even took a Native back to Franco with him. Yot if the average school child was asked who it was discovered Now Zealand, tho an swot in nine cases out of ten would bo —'fCaptain Cook." Although tho honour of'discoverer is not .his,' that worthy Yorkshireman and great navigator, in his bluff-bowed- Endeavour, made tho first practical survey of New Zealand, was the first to discover that Now Zealand was an island group, and was the man_ who really "blazed the track" by furnishing such information as later on impressed others with the desirability of making this land a part of the British Dominions. It is even possiblo to conceive that without tho discoveries of Cook to go upon, England might not now wear such jewels in her crown as Australia and New Zealand. .'lt is to honour the man who faced the perils of unknown waters and pierced the mysteries of unkno\vn lands that his Excellency tho Governor, Lord Liverpool (accompanied by a representative party), is to nnveil a memorial at Ship Covo (Queen, Charlotte Sound) to-day. The Coming of Cook. James Cook, - who acted ',asmato, and afterwards as master, of the Mercury in the naval operations against the French at Queboc, attracted the attention' of the Royal Society by tho care and accuracy of his charts and observations in tho St. Lawrence River, and was asked .-if he would tako command, of on expedition that was to view the transit of. Venus-in tho Southern Pacific,' about which very little was then known, it being considered necessary that tho transit should be scientifically observed from two widely divergent points on the faco of the'earth. Tho offer was accepted, and on August 2G, 1768, the Endeavour, a small ship of 370 tons register, set sail from Plymouth Sound, bound for tho great unknown. Among Cook's companions were Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, and Mr. Green (tho astronomer), and others, in all 8t persons, with eighteen months'• ten carriage and twelve swivel pins, and abundance of ammunition and trading goods stowed,below. Tho'Endeavour arrived at Tahiti on April M, 17G9, and tho transit was observed op June 3 following. On .July 13 Cook set rail to search for unknown lands, and on October 6 land was sighted to the westward., At first it wAs thought to be'a portion of tho coast of "Terra Australia Incognita," but it turned out to bo tho east coast of New Zealand. Tho first land sighted was Young Nick's Head, so called because it was-first-espied by Nicholas Young, one of the ship's boys, and , on October 8 tho anchor was dropped opposite the mouth of the Turanganui River—the Gisborno of to-day. A memorial now marks tho spot where Cook landed thero. At Ship Cove, ' ■After somo adventurous experiences along the coast, Cook sailed north, naming .tho different geographical features as ho rough-charted the island, and it is agreeable to know that, all these names havo been retained, from Capo ,'Turnngain (whero ho turned north) right up to tlio Three Kiags. Doubling Capo Maria Van Dieman, Cook followed the coast down to Cook Strait, where being short of wood and water, awl.the, Endeavour being in sore need of a scraping underneath, it was decided to put. into one of tho many inlets and careen shin. "Accordingly." ,says an ; account .of ..CooVs-. voyages in ■ "Early.New Zealaw'"(T;. A. Sherrin), "on' January 15, 1770, they, steered for an .inlet,'when iFboing almost calm the ship , was carried very near tho shore, but got ■ clear with the' assistanco of tho . boats. Tho captain sent tho pinnace to examine a sninll cove that appeared, but soon after recalled her, on seeing the Natives launch and arm their canoes. Tho 'Endeavour anchored in a, commodious part of thebbaty t (Ship Cove). In sailing towards this spot a Native town was descriod, when Mm inhabitants waved their hands as though inviting tho Endeavour's peoplo to land. In passing the point of the bay they observed nn armed sentinel on duty, who was twice relieved. Four canoes enmo from the shore to visit the ship, but nono of the Natives .would venture on ,board, except an old man .who seemed to be of elevated rank. His. countrymen took great pains to prevent his coming on board,'hut they could not divert him from his purpose, and he was received with the utmost civility. Tupaea (a Natiyo brought from Tahiti) . joined noses •with liini, according to the custom of tho country, and after receiving several pre;pants he returned to his'associates, when they bejran to laudh and dance. . The captain and some of tho gentlemen now went, on shore.".whero they found, plenty of wood and water, and were very successful ill fishing." ... The First Shot Fired. "On January 1G the Endeavour people were.engaged in careening her when three canoes came off, having on board above a hundred, men and several women. This circumstance was judged a favourable presage of their peaceable disposition, but they scon gave proofs to the contrary by •attempting to stop the longboat that was scijt nn snore for water, when Captain Cook had recourse to the old expedient of firing some shot, which intimidated them for a time,'but soon after one. of them snatched soma paper from one of the crew, and brandished'a Nativo weapon threateningly, whereupon it was judged expedient to fire some phot at him, which wounded him in tho knee. This put a stop to their trading, but Tupaca still conversed with them, and asked them if they had ever before seen so large a ship as the Endeavour, to which they replied that they had not, nor had they heard of such a. vessel on tho coast. Customs of Cannibals. "The manner of disposing of their dead is very diifercnt from what is practised in the South Sea Islands. They tie a largo 6toite to tho body, and throw it into tho sea. The captain, Mr. Banks, and tho doctor visited another covo . about two miles from the ship. -Thero was a family of Natives, who were greatly alarmed at the approach of tho. gentlemen, all running away except one, but upon Tupnea's conversing with him, the others returned. They found by the provisions of this family that they were cannibals, hero being several human bones that hod been lately dressed and pickcd; and it appear-, ed'that a short timo before six of their enemies haying fallen into their hands, they had killed- four ond eaten them, and that tho other two were drowned in endeavouring to make their escape. They made no secret of this custom, but answered Tupaea, who was desired to ascertain tho fact, with great composure that his conjectures werb just; thnt they were tho bones of a man, and testified by signs that, they thought human flesh delicious food. Upon being asked why they had not eaten the body of a woman thev had seen floating in the water, they answered that sho died of a disorder, and that moreover the was related to them, and they never ate any but their enemies. Skulls for Sale. v

"Some of the Natives.ollo day brought four skulls to soli, which they rated at a very high price. The brains had been taken out, but,the skin and hair remained. They seemed to have been dried by fire in order to preservo them from putrefaction. The tail of a canoe which had been seen was made of a human skull. <»n the whole, the> ideas of. these Natives were so brutish that they seemed to pride themselves 011 their cruelty.

. "On January 17 the ship was visitefl by a canoe from the pa. It contained anions others the old Native who had visited tho Endeavour 011 its arrival. In conforcnco with Tupaca ho testified that their enemies would very soon visit them and repay tho compliment for killing and eating four of their men. On January Mr. Banks bought a man's head, which had been preserved from putrefaction. Whilst visiting pa on January 24 they observed with smi>riso a cross exactly liko that of a crucifix. It was adorned with feathers, and upon inquiry, being mado for what purpose it had been tet up, tho Natives replied that it was e. monument

for a man who was dead. To the inquiry how tho body of the man had been disposed of, and to whoso memory the cross had been erected, they refused to answer. On January 25, tho captain, Dr. Solander, and Mr. Banks went on shore to shoot, when they met with a courteous reception from the Natives. Tho next day they went to take a. view of tho Strait that passed between tho eastern and western seas, and accordingly ascended tho summit of tho hill, but it being cloudy weather they could not see a considerable distance. Hero, however, they erected a pile, leaving in it-musket balls, small shot, beads, etc., os a testimonial of this place having been visited by Europeans. The siiip's company wsro on January 27 and 28 engaged in making necessary repairs and getting ready for sea. Tho doctor and Mr. Banks often went on shoro whilst tho ship was preparing for sea, and mado several observations on the coast to tho north-west. ' Tb«y perceived «n island at about ten leagues .distance, between which and the mainland • thero were several smaller islendsj In the Name of Ki.-ig George. "On Thursday, January 30, two posts were erected, inscribed 'with the ship's .name. ftc. Ono was placed at the water-ing-place, with the Union Jack upon it, and tho other in tho same manner as on Motuara and the inhabitants being informed that these posts were meant as memorials of tho Endeavour having touched at this- place they promised never to destroy them. Tho captain then named the , inlet Queen Charlotte Sound, and took possession of it in the namo and for the use ■of his Majesty King George the Third. They then drank a bottle of wine to his Majesty's health, and gave the bottlo to the old man who had attended tliem up the hill, and who wa3 mighty delighted with .the present, "On February 6, in the morning, the Endeavour sailed out of the bay, which the ship's .company, from an abhorrence of tho brutish custom that prevailed there of eating men, called Cannibal Bay. They bent their course to an opening to the east, and in tho evening were becalmed in. the.mouth of the Straits. The two points which, form this entrance were Point; Jackson and Cape Koamaroo. The Natives colled tho land about it Totaranui, and tho, harbour, which the Captainnamed Ship Cove, is vory safe and commodious." Subsequent Visits. According to tho Admiralty returns furnished to Lord Eliot in July,' 1810, the years and duration-of Cook's visits to New Zealand were as follow:—Tho first from October 0, 1769, to Maroh 31, 1770; the second from March 25, 1773, until June .7, 1773; the third from October 21, to November ■ 26, 1773; the fourth from October 19 to November 10, 1771; and tho fifth'and last from February 12 to 25, 1777;