Unknown crew member’s ship log. ADM 55/122
Simplified transcript
I now had time to ask about the details of the Captain’s death. He landed at Kowrowa (the town on the north side) with Mr Philips the Sergeant and 9 marines, leaving the boats close to the shore. They walked up to the King’s hut. The Captain intended to get Kalaniʻōpuʻu on board as a security for the return of the boat. When Mr Philips went in and waked Kalaniʻōpuʻu up … he came out, and, when asked by Captain Cook to go on board as usual, immediately consented and walked towards the boat. When he was met by an old woman and some chiefs, who (probably suspecting something from seeing our people all armed and things carrying on in quite a different manner from before), begged him not to go, but, finding him at the Captain’s pressing desire wanting to go, absolutely insisted he should not.
Transcript
I had now leisure to enquire into the particulars of the Captain’s death. He landed at Kowrowa (the town on the North side) with Mr Philips the Sergeant, & 9 marines, leaving the Pinnace & Launch close to the shore. They walked up to the King’s hut. The Captain intended to get Tureeoboo on board as a security for the return of the boat. When Mr Philips went in and waked Terreoboo & told him the Lono was there, he came out, & being asked by Captain Cook to go on board as usual, he immediately consented & walked towards the boat. When he was met by an old woman & some chiefs, who (probably suspected something from seeing our people all armed, & things carried on in a quite different manner from formerly), intreated him not to go, but finding him at the Captain’s pressing desire, inclined to go, they absolutely insisted he should not.
Each of these extracts describe the same event: Captain Cook realises that a boat has been stolen and goes to kidnap Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the aliʻi nui (ruling chief) of the island of Hawaii, to hold him hostage to demand the return of the boat.
[Suggestion] Divide students into groups, and give each group a source to read.
- Write a timeline of 14 February 1779, the day that Captain Cook died. Mark the major events from these extracts on the timeline.
- Answer the below questions using your extract. Compare your answers with those who have different extracts. Are they the same? Are they different?
- Why does Captain Cook decide to kidnap Kalaniʻōpuʻu?
- Why do you think Kalaniʻōpuʻu goes willingly? Use this Hawaiian object to help you answer.
- What happens when Kalaniʻōpuʻu goes with Cook and his crew?
- What sources and perspectives are we missing?