The middle figure represents a fly-trap of the Island Ohiteroa; the two side figures, handles of the same instruments made in Otaheite

Otaheite was originally named Port Royal Harbour in King George the Third's Island by Captain Samuel Wallis (1728-1795). The first encounter between the Europeans and the islanders was on 15 January 1769. This was likely done by Sydney Parkinson, a Scottish botanical and natural history artist employed by Joseph Banks on Captain James Cook's first voyage. Captain 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.

Mounted on page with PAI3965, and in album with PAI3938-PAI3965, PAI3967-PAI4076.; Page 25.

Object Details

ID: PAI3966
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Date made: 1770s
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 228 x 185 mm
Parts: Atlas to Cook's Voyages Vol I 1773-1777. (Illustrations are from Hawkesworth's 'Voyages to the Southern Hemisphere', all volumes, and Cook [ed. Douglas] 'A Voyage towards the South Pole... ' [1773-75], page 70 onwards) (Album)