- Of all the British naval heroes over the
centuries, perhaps the best known - with the
sole exception of Nelson - was Captain James Cook. Unlike the other naval
heroes,
however, Cook was a man of peace, not war. He never commanded a ship of the
line, and
it was indeed ironic that he died in "battle." Cook's voyages, between 1768
and 1779,
were voyages of discovery, and he carefully charted for the world most of
the South
Pacific, as we know it today. One of the best known places Captain Cook
- visited was the Island of Otaheite, known today
more familiarly as Tahiti.
- During the time he was there, he had a chance
to observe various ceremonies,
- including those involved with death. This
engraving is titled
- "Representation of the Body of Tee, a Chief as
preserved after Death, in
Otaheite." This is one of the famous engravings published by Alexander
- Hogg about two hundred years ago, depicting the
Voyages of Captain Cook.
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-
Jane's
Tahiti Home Page
- Jane's Oceania Home Page
- Accommodation
and Travel Guide
-
Oceania - The
Last Voyage of Captain James Cook
-
- By Jane Resture
- (E-mail: jane@janeresture.com -- Rev.
30th December 2002)
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