This engraving, after drawings by artist William Hodges, is from the account of Cook's second voyage, 1772-75, [not, as previously stated here Hawkesworth's account of the first, published in 1773].

Captain James Cook (1728-1779) made three separate voyages to the Pacific (with the ships Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure, and Discovery) and did more than any other voyager to explore the Pacific and Southern Ocean. Cook not only encountered Pacific cultures for the first time, but also assembled the first large-scale collections of Pacific objects to be brought back to Europe. He was killed in Hawaii in 1779.

William Hodges (1744 - 1797) joined Cook's second expedition to the South Pacific as a draughtsman 1772-75 and was employed by the Admiralty in finishing his drawings.

Cook traveled to the Marquesas in March of 1774. The drawing was likely done between the 8th and 12th of April, 1774. The Chief is tattooed, wearing feathers on his head, and he wears a gorget around his neck. As recorded in Hawkesworth's account: 'When dress'd they wear on the fore head as an ornament a curious fillet of shell work decorated with feathers etc, round the neck a kind of Ruff made of wood decorated with small red pease which are stuck on with gum and bunches of human hair fastened to a string and tyed round the legs and arms; in this manner was the chief who came to visit us dress'd.' Cook, Journals II.

Mounted in album with PAI2055-PAI2090, PAI2092-PAI2127.; No.35.