Captain Cook lands in New Zealand // 1769 Journal Entry // Primary Source

Summary

The video script recounts an explorer's encounter with indigenous people, marked by initial curiosity and attempts at communication, escalating to conflict when misunderstandings and cultural barriers lead to violence. Despite the tragic loss of life, the narrative highlights the explorer's intent to seek friendship and understanding, as well as the resilience and adaptability of the young natives who, after being captured, quickly integrate into the explorer's community.

Takeaways

• 🚤 The narrative describes a journey where the narrator and his party anchor their ship and explore a bay, encountering natives along the river.
• 🏞 The bay has a fine sandy bottom and is located northeast of a small river's entrance, with the ship anchored half a league from the shore.
• 🔍 The explorers attempt to communicate with the natives but initially face resistance, as the natives brandish weapons and perform what seems to be a war dance.
• 🔫 In a series of encounters, the explorers use firearms to defend themselves, resulting in the death of some natives who were perceived as threats.
• 🗣️ Communication eventually improves when one of the party members speaks in the natives' language, leading to a more peaceful interaction.
• 🤝 Despite initial hostility, some natives swim over to the explorers' side, indicating a willingness to engage, although tensions remain due to demands for possessions.
• 🛡️ The natives show interest in the explorers' arms and make several attempts to snatch them, leading to further conflict when one native takes a hanger and is shot.
• 🏹 The explorers' use of small shot in their firearms results in wounding several natives, who then retreat across the river.
• 🛶 In an attempt to find fresh water and possibly make peaceful contact, the explorers row around the bay, but the mission is complicated by the surf and further encounters with natives.
• 🎯 The explorers' approach to seize a canoe results in a misunderstanding, leading to a firefight where two or three natives are killed and others are wounded or captured.
• 🌟 The captured natives, once on board, are treated kindly and quickly adapt to their new circumstances, showing resilience and a capacity for friendship.

Q & A

What was the date of the events described in the transcript?

The events described in the transcript took place on the 9th and 10th of October.

What was the weather like on the 9th of October according to the transcript?

The weather on the 9th of October was described as having gentle breezes and clear skies.

Where did the party anchor their ship?

The party anchored their ship on the northeast side before the entrance of a small river with a fine sandy bottom.

What was the initial interaction with the natives like?

The initial interaction with the natives was cautious, as they were observed from a distance and approached with the intention of speaking with them.

Why did the party decide to cross the river?

The party decided to cross the river because they saw natives on the other side whom they were desirous of speaking with and found that they could not ford the river.

What happened when the natives approached the boat?

When the natives approached the boat, they were initially warned with fired muskets. The third shot killed one of the natives who was about to throw his spear at the boat.

How did the natives react to the death of one of their own?

The natives were initially surprised and motionless, seemingly wondering what had killed their comrade. They then quickly retreated, dragging the dead body a short distance before leaving it.

What was the outcome of the second encounter with the natives on the 10th of October?

The second encounter escalated when the natives attempted to snatch weapons, leading to one of them being shot and wounded, and eventually dying.

What was the party's strategy to gain the friendship of the natives?

The party's strategy was to treat the captured natives with kindness, providing them with clothing and good treatment, hoping that this would lead to a positive relationship.

What was the tupaea's role in the encounter with the canoes coming in from the sea?

The tupaea called to the people in the canoes, assuring them that they would not be hurt if they came alongside, but this did not prevent a confrontation that resulted in casualties.

How did the youngest native captured perceive the situation after being treated kindly?

The youngest native, along with the others, became cheerful and seemed as merry as if they were with their own friends, indicating a positive response to the kindness shown to them.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 First Encounters and Conflicts with Natives

The narrative describes the first interactions between the crew and the indigenous people upon anchoring at a bay on the 9th of October. Initial attempts to engage with the natives across a river are met with resistance, leading to a confrontation where one native is killed by the crew after an attempt to attack their boat. The crew then prepares to defend themselves and returns to their ship. The next day, they attempt to communicate with the natives again, but the situation escalates into violence when one of the crew's weapons is stolen, resulting in another native's death. The crew's efforts to establish peaceful relations are complicated by the natives' aggressive behavior and their desire for the crew's possessions.

05:01

🛶 Pursuit and Capture of Native Canoeists

On the 10th, the crew's attempt to make peaceful contact with the natives by rounding the bay's head is thwarted by the surf. They encounter two canoes coming from the sea and try to establish friendly relations, but the natives resist capture. A misunderstanding leads to a violent engagement where the crew fires upon the canoeists, resulting in several deaths and injuries. The survivors are brought aboard the ship, treated kindly, and surprisingly integrate well with the crew, despite the tragic circumstances. The narrative reflects on the moral dilemma of using force and the unexpected outcome of the natives' cheerful acceptance after being captured.

Keywords

💡Breezes

Breezes refer to a gentle wind, typically associated with a light and pleasant outdoor experience. In the video's context, 'gentle breezes' set the scene of a calm and serene environment on the 9th of October, which contrasts with the later tension and conflict that arises with the natives.

💡Anchored

To 'anchor' in a maritime context means to secure a vessel in a particular location by dropping an anchor to prevent it from drifting. In the script, the ship is 'anchored on the northeast side before the entrance of a small river,' indicating the beginning of an exploration or interaction with the new land and its inhabitants.

💡Natives

The term 'natives' generally refers to the original inhabitants of a particular place. In the video, the crew encounters 'natives' on the other side of the river, sparking a series of interactions that are central to the video's narrative about cultural contact and conflict.

💡Musket

A 'musket' is a type of long gun, historically used as a personal firearm for hunting or military purposes. In the script, the firing of muskets is a pivotal moment, escalating the conflict with the natives and leading to casualties, which is a key element in the video's depiction of early colonial encounters.

💡Fathoms

A 'fathom' is a unit of length traditionally used to measure the depth of water, equivalent to six feet. The script mentions 'fathoms fine sandy bottom,' which describes the sea conditions and contributes to the setting of the exploration.

💡River

The 'river' serves as a geographical feature and a boundary in the script. It is a central location for the interactions between the crew and the natives, symbolizing both a physical and metaphorical divide between the two groups.

💡Coxswain

A 'coxswain' is the person in charge of a boat, responsible for its navigation and safety. In the script, the coxswain's actions, such as firing muskets, are crucial in the unfolding events and the crew's response to the natives' aggression.

💡Marines

Marines are military personnel trained for service ashore and afloat, often involved in expeditionary warfare. The script mentions the landing of 'marines,' indicating a military presence that plays a role in the ensuing conflict with the natives.

💡Hanger

A 'hanger' in the 18th-century context could refer to a type of sword. In the video, the snatching of Mr. Greene's hanger by a native and the subsequent response to it is an example of the escalating tensions and misunderstandings between the two groups.

💡Bayonets

A 'bayonet' is a knife that can be fixed to the muzzle of a gun, used as a weapon in close combat. The script mentions the reluctance to use bayonets, reflecting the crew's hesitation to escalate violence and the moral dilemmas faced during such encounters.

💡Canoed

A 'canoe' is a lightweight boat, often pointed at both ends and used for navigating rivers or lakes. In the script, the canoes coming from the sea represent another group of natives that the crew attempts to engage, leading to further conflict and illustrating the complexity of the interactions.

Highlights

Arrival on the 9th of October with gentle breezes and clear weather, anchoring on the northeast side of a bay with a sandy bottom.

Initial encounter with natives on the opposite side of the river, who were initially curious but cautious.

The crew's attempt to cross the river was met with resistance from the natives, leading to the use of the yawl boat for transportation.

A tense standoff with the natives, who threatened the yawl boat, resulting in the firing of muskets and the death of one native.

The natives' reaction to the musket fire, showing surprise and confusion before retreating with the dead body.

Preparation for the boats in response to the musket fire, indicating a readiness for potential conflict.

The next day's encounter with natives at the same location, with an attempt to communicate using the Georges Island language.

The natives' aggressive response to the crew's approach, brandishing weapons and performing a war dance.

The landing of marines to provide support and protection for the crew during the interaction with the natives.

Surprise understanding between the crew and natives through the use of the local language, facilitating communication.

The natives' desire for the crew's possessions, particularly their arms, leading to several attempts to snatch them.

An escalation in tension as a native snatches Mr. Greene's hanger, leading to a crew member being fired upon and wounded.

The natives' retreat to a rock in the middle of the river after the crew discharges their pieces, showing a strategic response to the conflict.

The crew's decision to embark and search for fresh water, with the intention of surprising and befriending the natives.

An unsuccessful attempt to seize natives in a canoe, leading to a confrontation and the accidental killing of several natives.

The rescue and kind treatment of the surviving natives, who quickly adapt and appear cheerful and at ease with the crew.

Reflection on the conduct of firing upon the natives, acknowledging the moral dilemma and the necessity of self-defense.

Transcripts

[Music]

9th of October gentle breezes and clear

weather p.m. stood into the bay and

anchored on the northeast side before

the entrance of a small river intend

fathoms fine sandy bottom the northeast

point of the bay bought east by south

half south and the southwest point to

south distance from the shore half a

league after this I went to Shan with a

party of men in the boat and you'll

accompanied by mr. banks and dr.

cylinder we landed abreast of the ship

and on the east side of the river just

mentioned but seeing some of the natives

on the other side of the river of whom I

was desirous of speaking with and

finding that we could not Ford the river

I ordered the y'all in to carry us over

and the boat to lay off at the entrance

in the meantime the Indians made of

however we went as far as their huts

which lay about two or three hundred

yards from the waterside leaving for

boys to take care of the Ewell which we

had no sooner left then four men came

out of the woods on the other side of

the river and would certainly have cut

her off

had not the people in the boat

discovered them and called to her to

drop down the stream which they did

being closely pursued by the Indians

the Coxon of the boat who had the charge

over the boats seeing this fired two

muskets over their heads the first made

them stop and look round but the second

they took no notice of upon which a

third was fired and killed one of them

upon the spot just as he was going to

dart his spear at the boat this the

other three stood motionless for a

minute or two seemingly quite surprised

wondering no doubt what it was that had

thus killed their comrade but as soon as

they recovered themselves they made off

dragging the dead body a little way and

then left it upon our hearing the report

of the muskets we immediately prepared

to the boats and after viewing the dead

body

we returned on board in the morning

seeing a number of the natives at the

same place where we saw them last night

I went on shore with the boats manned

and armed and landed on the opposite

side of the river mr. banks dr. cylinder

and myself only landed at first I went

to the side of the river

the natives being got together on the

opposite side we called to them in the

Georges island language but they

answered us by flourishing their weapons

over their heads and dancing as we

supposed the war danced upon this we

retired until the marines were landed

which i ordered to be drawn up about two

hundred yards behind us we went again to

the river side having to pierre mr.

green and doctor Monkhouse along with us

to be as spoke to them in his own

language and it was an agreeable

surprise to us to find that they

perfectly understood him after some

little conversation had passed one of

them swam over to us and after him

twenty or thirty more these last brought

their arms which the first man did not

we made them everyone presence but this

did not satisfy them they wanted

everything that we had about us

particularly our arms and made several

attempts to snatch them out of our hands

Dhupia told us several times as soon as

they came over to take

care of ourselves but they were not our

friends and this we very soon found for

one of them snatched mr. Greene's hanger

from him

and would not give it up this encouraged

the rest to be more insolent and seeing

others coming over to join the my or did

the man who had taken the hanger to be

fired at which was accordingly done and

wounded in such a manner that he died

soon after upon the first fire which was

only two muskets the others retired to a

rock which lay nearly in the middle of

the river but on seeing the man fall

they returned probably to carry him off

for his arms the last of which they

accomplished and this we could not

prevent unless we had run our bayonets

into them for upon their returning to

the rock we had discharged off our

pieces which are loaded with small shot

and wounded three more but these got

over the river and were carried off by

the others who now thought proper to

retire finding nothing was to be done

with the people on this side and the

water in the river being sawed I

embarked with an intent to row round the

head of the bay in search of some fresh

water and if possible to surprise some

of the natives and to take them on board

and buy good treatment and presents

endeavour to gain their friendship with

this view

Tuesday the 10th p.m. I rode around the

head of the bay but could find no place

to land on account of the great surf

which beat everywhere upon the shore

seeing two boats or canoes coming in

from the sea I rowed to one of them in

order to seize upon the people and came

so near before they took notice of us

the tupaea called to them to come

alongside and we would not hurt them but

instead of doing this they endeavored to

get away upon which I will did a musket

to be fired over their heads thinking

this would either make them surrender or

jump overboard but here I was mistaken

for they immediately took to their arms

or whatever they had in the boat and

began to attack us this obliged us to

fire upon them and unfortunately either

two or three were killed and one wounded

and three jumped overboard

these last we took up and brought on

board where they were clothed and

treated with all imaginable kindness and

to the surprise of everybody at once

became as cheerful than as merry as if

they had been with their own friends

there were all three young the eldest

not above twenty years of age and the

youngest about ten or twelve I am aware

that most humane men who have not

experienced things of this nature will

censor my conduct in firing upon the

people in their boat nor do I myself

think that the reason I had for seizing

upon her will at all

justify me and had I've thought that

they would have made the least

resistance I would not have come near

them but as they did I was not to stand

still and suffer either myself all those

that were there with me to be knocked on

the head

you

[Music]