Journey South
When the scientific work on Tahiti was finished Cook was ready for his next mission. His instructions, which were secretly hidden in an envelope, told him to explore to the south.
The winds of the Roaring Forties were so cold that the ropes were frozen and they cut the sailors hands. They were delighted when they sailed to where it was warmer.
On 6 October a young boy, Nicholas Young who was in the Crow’s nest, sighted land and suddenly shouted “Land Ahoy!” They were all wondering if this was the Great South Land.
They followed the coast closely and Cook drew a very accurate map of the two islands of New Zealand.
Some of the native people were upset because they were not used to new arrivals especially when they looked so strange. They thought they were goblins with eyes in the backs of their heads because they rowed their boats backwards.
Although they had been away from home for a year and a half Cook and his officers made the hard decision to continue west to Van Dieman’s Land.
When the scientific work on Tahiti was finished Cook was ready for his next mission. His instructions, which were secretly hidden in an envelope, told him to explore to the south.
The winds of the Roaring Forties were so cold that the ropes were frozen and they cut the sailors hands. They were delighted when they sailed to where it was warmer.
On 6 October a young boy, Nicholas Young who was in the Crow’s nest, sighted land and suddenly shouted “Land Ahoy!” They were all wondering if this was the Great South Land.
They followed the coast closely and Cook drew a very accurate map of the two islands of New Zealand.
Some of the native people were upset because they were not used to new arrivals especially when they looked so strange. They thought they were goblins with eyes in the backs of their heads because they rowed their boats backwards.
Although they had been away from home for a year and a half Cook and his officers made the hard decision to continue west to Van Dieman’s Land.
We wonder if the Maori’s performed the haka for Captain Cook and his crew when they landed in New Zealand.
The haka is an ancient war dance with foot-stamping, body slapping and loud chanting.
Our question:
How did Captain Cook feel when he met the Maori people of New Zealand?
Comment:
John Longley
PROJECT MANAGER and crew member of Australia II during the America's Cup conquest in 1983 and the man behind the Endeavour replica.
Initially I am sure he was very excited but unfortunately despite his best intentions it all went terribly wrong and 8 Maori were killed. Joseph Banks wrote in his diary that it was "..the blackest day of my life?" This was all in the place called Taraunganui a Kiwa that Cook called Poverty Bay. The ship turned and sailed north to Anaura Bay that Cook called The Bay of Plenty. The word of the power of the "Goblins from the Sea" had spread fast ashore among the Maoris and the people of Anaura Bay decided to try and be friendly which of course worked. ( please check my Maori place name spelling).
So why were they so aggressive? This is a very complicated question. Firstly the Maori were in various tribes that were often at war with each other. They were a war like people. This is maybe because they had been there for over 800 years before Cook. Initially there was much food with the giant Moas and other birds, fish, shellfish but when Cook arrived the population had grown close to the sustainable limits of the islands and hence there was a lot of fighting for resources. Also Cook arrived right in the middle of a war between the two tribes of the area and managed to stand on a rock in the middle of the River that was a sacred place. It was the wrong place at the wrong time.
How did Captain Cook feel when he met the Maori people of New Zealand?
Comment:
John Longley
PROJECT MANAGER and crew member of Australia II during the America's Cup conquest in 1983 and the man behind the Endeavour replica.
Initially I am sure he was very excited but unfortunately despite his best intentions it all went terribly wrong and 8 Maori were killed. Joseph Banks wrote in his diary that it was "..the blackest day of my life?" This was all in the place called Taraunganui a Kiwa that Cook called Poverty Bay. The ship turned and sailed north to Anaura Bay that Cook called The Bay of Plenty. The word of the power of the "Goblins from the Sea" had spread fast ashore among the Maoris and the people of Anaura Bay decided to try and be friendly which of course worked. ( please check my Maori place name spelling).
So why were they so aggressive? This is a very complicated question. Firstly the Maori were in various tribes that were often at war with each other. They were a war like people. This is maybe because they had been there for over 800 years before Cook. Initially there was much food with the giant Moas and other birds, fish, shellfish but when Cook arrived the population had grown close to the sustainable limits of the islands and hence there was a lot of fighting for resources. Also Cook arrived right in the middle of a war between the two tribes of the area and managed to stand on a rock in the middle of the River that was a sacred place. It was the wrong place at the wrong time.