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1792 engraving showing the Society Islands in the South Pacific region during CAPTAIN JAMES COOK's VOYAGE titled "VIEW in The DISTRICT of WHAPIANO, Island of OTAHEITE" - inv # 3P-315
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SEE PHOTO(s) - An ORIGINAL 9" x 6" blank back engraving dated 1791 and titled: "View in the district of Whapiano, Island of Otaheite" in the Society islands in the South Pacific.
This engraving after a drawing by John Webber comes from the official account of Cook's third voyage, 'A voyage to the Pacific Ocean', published by Scatcherd and Whitaker in 1784. 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. Cook was in Nomuka (Annamooka), Tonga or Friendly Isles from May 1-14, 1777. "On May 2 1777 the expedition reached Nomuka and anchored in the harbour on the north side of the island, which Cook had already used in June 1774. Both ships were in want of refreshments. A camp was erected on shore both as a trading post and a workshop for repairs. Watering, cutting wood, and above all bartering for food became the main occupation during the next days." In this drawing, the building of relationships and trafficking with the Nomukans are embraced within a broad panorama of documented history. The ships are in this case too far out at sea to be included in the picture though -- as before -- their presence is hinted at by the ships' boats in the harbour. Some are loaded with water barrels, others are being used for transport of food, which is piled up on shore. In the left foreground a native outrigger is being pulled on to the shore, surrounded by Tongans who lift or carry away fruit. They are moving towards the righ, where, between a large hut and a group of coconut palms a large clearning has been made for a group of Nomukans, sitting cross-legged in a circle. In the middle of this hogs, yams, plantains etc. are collected and the marines within the circle are probably engaged in transporting goods received. The presence of the marines is underlined by a pyramid of rifles. They were stationed there 'for the protection of the horses and the waterers'. Two horses may be seen to the right of the hut resting under the shade of a large breadfruit tree. A few yards in front of the tree stands an indigenous hut with open sides and a thatched roof, built on poles. Several Nomukans sit within. Many studies were necessary to build up a comprehensive scene like this.
When Captain James Cook’s ships arrived at Nomuka in Tonga a camp was set up on the shore of the harbour where Cook had previously anchored on his second voyage in June 1774. Here they replenished their supplies of food and water, battering with residents and making repairs to the ship. These activities are captured in this lively scene in which the sailors mingle with the inhabitants, and both European and indigenous craft are seen on the shoreline.
Joppien and Smith note that while maintenance of the ships, their supplies and crew were a typical part of each of Cook’s voyages, Webber was the first artist to pay any attention to the depiction of these activities. They write: “Not only at Tonga, but at all major ports of call…Webber observed similar scenes, vignettes of daily life…. By [recording] them ,Webber reflected the expedition as a history-making event in itself…. Webber’s tendency to demonstrate the complexity of action is historical in an eventful and documentary sense but it is also anti-heroic.”
Anamooka (Nomuka) is an island in the archipelago group that forms the Kingdom of Tonga. At Nomuka a party was sent on shore to arrange supplies for the ships. In this picture fruit and other provisions are being piled within the circle of Nomukans.
Good condition. This listing includes the original 1792 blank back engraving. STEPHEN A. GOLDMAN HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS stands behind all of the items that we sell with a no questions asked, money back guarantee. U.S. buyers pay priority mail postage which includes waterproof plastic and a heavy cardboard flat to protect the purchased item from damage in the mail. Upon request by the buyer, we can ship by USPS Media Mail to reduce postage cost; however, please be aware that USPS Media Mail can be very slow in its time of transit to the buyer. International postage is quoted when we are informed as to where the package is to be sent. We do combine postage (to reduce postage costs) for multiple purchases sent in the same package. We list thousands of rare newspapers with dates from 1570 through 2004 on Ebay each week. This is truly SIX CENTURIES OF HISTORY that YOU CAN OWN!
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