King George’s Island, or Otaheiti
(Tahiti), was discovered by Captain Wallis, commander of HMS
Dolphin (1766-68).
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A Map of King
George’s Island
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Wallis returned from the voyage in time for his findings
to help the Royal Society decide that this was one of the
best places from which to observe the Transit of Venus, the
recording of the passing of the shadow of the planet across
the disc of the sun. This was important to provide data from
which the distance from the earth to the sun could be calculated
and would serve as a unit for the measurement of the universe.
The Royal Society had persuaded the King to support a naval
expedition to observe the Transit, arguing that this would
not only help with scientific investigation but also navigation
and therefore trade. HM Bark Endeavour was chosen to take
the astronomers to Tahiti and James Cook, promoted to Lieutenant,
appointed to command the vessel and to be one of the Transit
observers.
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A map of Royal
or Matavie Bay
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On arriving at Tahiti, Cook chose a location
in Matavai Bay to establish his base. He had been warned in
his Admiralty instructions:
“…But as Captn. Wallis has represented the
Island to be very populous, and the Natives (as well there
as at the other Islands which he visited) to be rather treacherous
than otherwise you are to be Cautious not to let your self
be surprised by them, but to be Constantly on your guard against
any accident.”
Cook therefore built a fort to protect his men and equipment.
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Fort Venus Otaheite
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Cook had built a banked, ditched and pallisaded
enclosure to hold about 45 of his men, including the officers
and gentlemen. It was defended not only by his men with small
arms but also with some of the cannon and swivel guns from
the Endeavour.
Cook wrote,
“I now thought myself perfectly secure from anything
that these people could attempt”, but in spite these
precautions “…when Mr Green and I went to set
up the Quadt. it was not to be found, it had never been taken
out of the Packing case…and the whole was pretty heavy,
so that it was a matter of astonishment to us all how it could
be taken away, as a Centinal stood the whole night within
5 yards of the door of the Tent where it was put…”
The quadrant was later recovered undamaged.
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A plan of Fort
Venus
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Inside Fort Venus Cook established the observatory
in preparation for the Transit, the armourer’s forge
and a cook’s oven. Outside was a tent for the cooper
and sailmaker. |