Captain James Cook's three voyages to the South Seas are among the most
astonishing expeditions in history - as he and his men circled the world,
charting perilous tropical seas and icy Antarctic waters.
Cook forged strong, enlightened relationships with the peoples of the Pacific
and outraged his crew by ignoring skirmishes ending in the murder and
cannibalism of their comrades. And one day at Queen Charlotte Sound, New
Zealand, sailors stages a bizarre ritual in defiance of their captain - the
trial, execution and eating of a pet dog. But when Cook eventually began to mete
out cruel punishments to the islanders, the result was his own violent downfall
in Hawaii in 1779.
Drawing on all contemporary accounts, Anne Salmond's vivid narrative weaves
the stories of the European explorers and Pacific Islander - and the lasting
impact of their explosive collision.
Contents:
List of Illustrations
List of Maps
Acknowledgements
Preface
1. How Englishmen Came to Eat Dogs
2. Rule Britannia!
3. The Wooden World of the 'Endeavour'
4. High Priest of 'Oro
5. Tupaia's Paintbox
6. Cook's Tour of Tahiti
7. Travellers from Hawaiki
8. The Owner of these Bones
9. Penguins on Wimbledon Common
10. Cannibals and Kings
11. A Feast at Grass Cove
12. The Return of the Native
13. Monboddo's Monkeys
14. A Tahitian at the Opera
15. The Glorious Children of Te Tumu
16. Farewell to Elysium
17. Killing Kuki
Conclusion: Our Ancestor Captain Cook
Appendix: Calendar of Punishments During Captain Cook's Three Pacific Voyages
Selected Bibliography
Notes
Index
