File:The story of Captain Cook's three voyages round the world (1870) (14741554576).jpg

Identifier: storyofcaptainco00jone (find matches)
Title: The story of Captain Cook's three voyages round the world
Year: 1870 (1870s)
Authors: Jones, M
Subjects: Cook, James, 1728-1779 Voyages around the world
Publisher: London : Cassell, Petter & Galpin
Contributing Library: Scott - York University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Ontario Council of University Libraries and Member Libraries

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tersome squally weather by the way, and the discoveryof an island which there was not time to examine. Thepeople of it, who seemed desirous that our navigatorsshould land, spoke the same language as that of Tahiti. On nearing their old anchorage in Oaiti-piha Bay, somecanoes put off to the ship, containing, among others, Omaisbrother-in-law, and some of his friends; but, on comingon board, neither they nor their long-absent relation andfriend showed the least emotion, until Omai gave hisbrother a few of the red feathers which were so highlyvalued in the island. That entirely altered things : one ofthe friends immediately begged to exchange names withOmai, and was rewarded by a gift of these precious feathersfrom the latter, who, in return, received the substantialpresent of a pig. The news of red feathers being to behad spread like wildfire, and next day swarms of canoessurrounded the ships, in hopes of getting the coveted com-modity in return for pigs and vegetables. Trade was brisk,
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OMAI AT TAHITI. 179 and, at first, greatly to the advantage of our friends ; forfeathers—about as much as might have been plucked froma tomtit—sufficed for the purchase of a hog of forty orfifty pounds weight. But soon there was a rapid decreasein their value; for, alas ! every one of the ships crews hadprovided himself with red feathers, and so had the satis-faction of spoiling the bargains both of himself and hisneighbours. Still they kept up a respectable value ; theywere the gold, so to speak, of Tahiti, whilst nails, beads,and other trinkets, once so eagerly sought, were now thesmallest coppers of the community: scarcely anyonewould even look at them. Fashion was, and is, just asarbitrary and exacting in these uncivilised portions of theearth as in London or Paris. Ships work began immediately, for there was no time tobe lost. Stores had to be got up and overhauled ; ballastto be supplied in their place in the lower part of the vessel;and much caulking to be done, for during

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