Log of William Harvey, Masters Mate. Catalogue ref: ADM 55/121
Simplified transcript
When the Hawaiians began to throw lots of stones, the Captain, instead of returning to the boats as urged, let them insult him to such an extent that for his own safety he had to shoot two of them, and the Officer of Marines another.
…
When being waved to get the people on shore, those in the boats thought it was to stop firing, which they did as they were rowing to shore. The Hawaiians immediately perceived this, and before the boats came to take them away, rushed in and knocked down the Captain, the Corporal, and four private marines who they killed. The Officer of Marines, the Sergeant, and a private marine were dangerously wounded. They escaped by dropping their weapons and leaping into the water, and swimming to the nearest boat.
Transcript
…when the Indians began to heave stones at a great rate, for all this the Captain instead of repairing to the boats as he was urged to do, but permitted the greatest insults from them to such a degree that for the security of his own person he was obliged to shoot two of them, and the Officer of Marines another…
…when being waved to come in to take them off, those in the boats thought it was to desist from firing which they did as they were rowing towards the shore, which the Indians immediately perceived, and before the boats rowed take them off they rushed in upon them knocked down the Captain the Corporal and four private marines which they killed, the Officer of Marines, the Sergeant and a private marine was dangerously wounded, they escaped being killed as well as the remaining of the party by quitting their arms and leaping into the water swimming to the Pinnace which was the nearest boat…
Each of these extracts describe the same event: a fight breaks out between Captain Cook, his men, and the Hawaiians who have come to stop them kidnapping Kalaniʻōpuʻu. He is struck and killed during the fight.
- Continue your timeline. 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?
- How did the fight start?
- Did Cook order the boats to stop firing?
- How was Cook killed?
- What was the motive behind Cook’s death?
- Based on these extracts, how do you think Cook’s crew viewed the Hawaiians?