Captain Cook

F ICTION lovers have long been thrilled with the now threadbare plot so often used in tales of adventure which re- count the experiences of white men who, through shipwreck and other circumstances have found themselves cast upon lonely South Sea islands, and then worshiped as gods by hordes of dusky sav- ages. Despite its improbability, this is exactly what happened to Cap- tain James Cook, the famous Eng- lish circumnavigator and explorer, on his second visit to the Hawaiian Islands in the early part of 1779. Not only was he considered a white god by the natives, but he permitted the Hawaiians to wor- ship him as such, and paid for the indiscretion with his life. ALTHOUGH the Ha- waiian Islands were visited by the Spanish in 1555, who kept their discovery secret, credit for their discovery is generally accorded to Captain James Cook, who made his first visit on January 18, 1778 — landing on the Island of Kauai at the mouth of the Waimea river, when he named them the Sand- wich Islands for his patron, the Earl of Sandwich. During this first visit, the na- tives on the shores "fell flat upon their faces and remained so until Captain Cook bad made signs for them to rise." Presents were ex- changed and the natives appeared exceedingly friendly. In recording this first visit of Captain Cook's, history says that the natives were left in a state of the utmost wonder and perplexity with regard to the character of their strange visitors and, although there was no demonstration that revealed their feelings, the major- ity looked upon the white naviga- Captain James Cook tor as a reincarnation of their God Lono, and upon the members of his crew as supernatural beings. Messengers were dispatched to the islands of Oahu and Maui to in- form the chiefs there of the arrival of these wonderful beings, who were described by the messengers as follows: "The men are white; their skin is loose and hangs in folds, (clothes) ; their heads are angular (cornered hats) ; they are gods of the volcano because fire and smoke comes from their mouths (tobacco smoke) ; treasure doors are in their sides, openings in the flesh into which they thrust their hands and draw out iron, beads, nails and other treasures, and their speech is unintelligible." c APTAIN COOK then made a visit to the northwest coast of America and returned to the Hawaiian Islands on November 26, 1778, when he sighted the Island of Maui. For nearly two months following he cruised around the lower part of Maui and the northern coast of Hawaii, trad- ing with the natives, and seeking the while for a good place to repair his ships — the "Resolution" and the "Discovery." It was during this second visit that Captain Cook was generally accepted by the natives as their god Lono, and worshiped as such. According to an ancient legend, the Hawaiian god Lono informed the Hawaiians upon his ascension to heaven, that some day he would return, and that when he did re- turn, his path to earth would lie along a rainbow. It so happened that Koa, an aged priest of Na- poopoo, Island of Hawaii, when emerging from his hut one sunny morning on January 17, 1779, saw two strange ships — the "Res- olution" and the "Discovery" in Kealakekua Bay, while strangely enough a beautiful rainbow arched in the sky directly over the vessels. Convinced that the god Lono had fulfilled his promise and had returned to earth, the aged priest spread the glad tidings, and the belief of the natives that he was actually their god Lono was expressed in fantastic demonstra- tions. They made no effort to conceal their conclusion that Cap- tain Cook was Lono returned to earth, and proceeded almost im- mediately to bestow upon him all the honors due such a person- age. Captain Cook permitted it, per- haps through fear, or perhaps in hope of personal or national gain. Indicative of the power he en- joyed under these circumstances, Jarves, the historian, writes: "He moved among them as an earthly deity, observed, feared and wor- shiped." When Captain Cook landed at Kealakekua on January 17, 1779, Kalaniopu, the aged king of Ha- waii, was at Wailua in Koolau, engaged in war with Kahekili, king of Maui, and the affairs of Kalan- iopu's kingdom were in charge of his chiefs Palea and Kanaina, who accompanied Koa, the aged priest, on a visit to Cook's ship. W] ITH the utmost veneration Koa saluted Captain Cook, and placed a piece of red tapa about his shoulders. He then made an offering of a pig and re- cited a long prayer. Later in the afternoon, Cook and two of his officers accompanied the priest to shore, and the people prostrated themselves on the ground at his approach. He was conducted to the Temple of Lono, in which none but Cook, the chiefs and their attendants was allowed to enter, which was located in the northern end of the village of Na- poopoo where, after semi-barbaric

752 The Improvement Era for September, 1930 ceremonies, Captain Cook was sol- emnly acknowledged to be and in- stalled as the reincarnation of the god Lono. He was stationed in front of sacred images, and robed in red tapa. Two priests chanted long prayers, and a dead hog was offered to him, while similar cere- monies were enacted in other parts of the temple. As a crowning mark of honor, Captain. Cook was anointed with the chewed kernel of a coconut, and was regaled with awa, baked pork and offerings of fruit. A site for an observatory was finally selected by Captain Cook near the Temple of Lono, where tents were erected and instruments set up. The party on shore was liberally supplied with hogs, vege- tables and fruits each day, while many canoe-loads of provisions were sent to the ships, for none of which any return was ever asked or made. Ki Jc IOHN LEDYARD, one of Captain Cook's officers, de- scribed the landing at Kealekekua in part, as follows: "The crowds that flocked to the shore, as the vessels sailed in and came to anchor, were prodigious. They had assembled from the interior and the coast. Three thousand canoes were counted in the bay, filled with men, women and children to the number of at least 15,000, besides others who were swimming and sustaining themselves in the water. "The scene was animated in the ex- treme. The beach, the surrounding rocks, the tops of houses, the branches of trees and the adjacent hills were all covered, and the shouts of joy and admiration, proceeding from the sonorous voices of the men, confused with the shriling ex- clamations of the women dancing and clapping their hands, the oversetting of canoes, cries of the children, goods afloat, and hogs that were brought to market squealing, formed one of the most curious prospects that can be imagined. "Cook's first visit to the shore was attended with a good deal of ceremony. Two chiefs, with long white poles as ensigns of their authority, made a passage among the canoes for his pinnace, and the people, as he was rowed along, covered their faces with their hands. "When he landed they fell prostrate on the beach before him, and a new set of officers opened a way for him through the crowd. The same expressions of awe were manifested as he proceded from the water's edge." OEVERAL days later, Captain Cook visited the priest's residence at Napoopoo, and was conducted to the Hale o Lono (House of Lono), where he was again worshiped. His time was divided between his ship and the land, and whenever he went ashore he was always accom- panied by a priest who ordered all the people to prostrate themselves. JNG KALANIOPUU returned from Maui on February 24th, and two days later visited the observatory with a party of chiefs. Captain Cook received them graciously, and the king placed his own magnificent feather cloak about the navigator's shoul- ders. He also placed a feather helmet on Cook's head, and laid several beautiful feather cloaks at his feet, as well as presenting him with a large number of hogs and a quantity of coconuts and bread- fruit, after which the priests made offerings and prayers to their sup- posed patron divinity. Cook returned the compliment by taking the royal party aboard his own ship, the "Resolution," where he presented the king with a linen shirt and a cutlass. Entertainments and feasts were then given the English officers on shore by the natives, followed by an exhibition of fireworks staged by Captain Cook, which terrified the natives who thought they were flying spirits. T. HE reign of Captain Cook as a god, however, was short-lived. About ten days after he landed, the natives began to tire of their guests, and showed them less respect. They quickly Bird Island (Nihoa) Part of Hawaiian Bird Reservation came to the realization that the navigator and his men were merely human beings like themselves. To make matters worse, there were violations of tabus by the visitors, crimes against their women, and other actions unbecoming to holy beings. In short, the abandoned conduct of the white men came to disgust the natives, and the lavish contributions levied upon the people for their support rapidly became a burden. The first serious breach occurred when Captain Cook's men tore down the fence around the temple and appropriated twelve wooden idols for firewood. The meek request of the chief priest that the central image be restored was ig- nored by the sailors. Captain Cook had previously offered first two, and then three hatchets to the temple priests for the firewood, which they declined to take. Cook's men took it anyway. Following an af- fray between a group of natives and Cook's men, quarrels and thefts became more numerous. "Finally," according to history, "on February 4, 1779, Cook and his men took their departure. The king presented the navigator with an imense quantity of vegetables and a large herd of pigs, together with an extensive collection of tapas and red and yellow feathers. 'The joy of the natives at the departure of the white men was beyond description." But Fate was most unkind. In- tending to survey the leeward islands before sailing for the Arc- tic, Cook encountered a severe gale off Kawaihee, which sprung the foremast of the "Resolution," and necessitated his return to Kealakekua for re- pairs. The vessel ar- rived at her old anchor- age on February 11th. "An ominous silence everywhere prevailed. A boat that had been sent ashore brought back word that Kalaniopuu was absent and had left the bay under tabu. Toward night a few canoes came off with provisions, but the be- havior of the natives plainly showed that their former friendship

The Improvement Era for September, 1930 753 was at an end. Almost the only- articles in demand were iron dag- gers which Captain Cook had or- dered to be made for barter/' 1 HE damaged mast was landed at the former camp. Serious trouble ensued between the natives and the seamen, and on one occasion the latter were stoned. A large cutter from the "Dis- covery" was stolen the following night, and after being taken some two miles away had been broken up for the iron that was in it. With the intention of holding King Kalaniopuu aboard his ves- sel a prisoner, and keeping him there until the stolen boat was returned, Captain Cook, with a lieutenant and nine marines, land- ed on Sunday morning, February 14th, and called upon the king — inviting him to come on board and spend the day. The king exhibited signs of un- easiness, and squatted down as a mark of humiliation, while Cook held him by the hand and endeav- ord to persuade him. Ti HE visit of Captain Cook and his party of marines to the home of the king had been closely watched, and before he had conversed ten minutes with Ka- laniopuu. he was surrounded by three or four hundred natives, over half of whom were chiefs. Cook became very uneasy when he be- held this hostile gathering, and became more urgent in his per- suasion. The aged king finally gave in and accompanied Cook to within a rod or two of the shore, when the king was held back by some of his chiefs — one of whom threatened Cook when he attempted to interpose. Some of the crowd cried out that Cook was going to take their king from them and kill him. One of the natives advanced in a threatening attitude, but was stopped at the sight of a bayonet presented by one of Cook's men, who also warned the navigator in the meantime of the danger of his situation — that he had overheard the native whom he had just stopped from rushing in upon him, say that Cook's men had just killed his brother, and he would be re- venged. UOOK then asked the marine to point out the native to whom he had reference, and as soon as he was pointed out, Cook fired at him with a blank cartridge. Perceiving that he was uninjured from the fire, the native rushed upon Cook for the second time, who met his advance with a ball shot from his pistol. The native dropped, and was drawn off into the crowd. Realizing now that the people were determined to oppose him, and that he could not carry out his plan without further blood- shed, Cook ordered Mr. Phillips, his lieutenant of marines, to with- draw his men and get them into the boats which were lying in readiness at the shore. The instant they retreated for the shore, Cook was struck by a stone and, perceiving the native who threw it, shot him dead. At the third pistol shot, the officer in the ship noting the retreat of the guard, ordered the boats to fire on the natives, which caused the guards to turn about and shoot. The attack then became general. Realizing that his men were firing without orders, Cook, who was standing in the rear of the guard with Phillips, quitted the king and ran toward the shore to put a stop to it. They were so closely pressed upon, how- ever, by the advancing chiefs, and being unable to make themselves heard above the din, they joined the guard who fired as they re- treated. Cook reached the water at last, and waved his hat desperately as a signal for the ship to cease firing, and while doing so a chief from behind stabbed him in the back with one of the iron daggers he had caused to be made for barter with the Hawaiians. Captain Cook fell with his face in the water, and immediately expired. A) .FTER the terrific struggle that followed, in which Phillips killed the native who had stabbed Captain Cook, seventeen natives and four seamen were killed. The Hawaiians then car- ried the bodies of Captain Cook and the seamen to a small heiau or temple where the flesh was re- moved from the bones and burned, and the bones of Captain Cook were tied up with red feathers and deified. The heart, liver, etc., of Cook's body were stolen during the night and eaten by two Ha- waiian children who thought they had been removed from a dog, while some of the bones, it is said, were kept in the temple of Lono and worshiped by the people until 1819, when they were removed and hidden in a secret place. Before leaving Kealakekua Bay, Captain Cook's officers and men revenged themselves for the killing of their leader by bombarding the village of Napoopoo with round and grape shot, after which they set fire to the village. The next day, a high priest was sent by the king to sue for peace, and on the following Saturday he delivered up some of the bones of Captain Cook, and such of the remains as were in the possession of his men were consigned to the sea with full military honors. — *<rfi£&#&- Joseph Smith, a Modern American Prophet (Continued from page 745) box, covers the edges with earth as they were before, and leaves the hill for the road to Palmyra. His heart is light. He walks as if he were treading on air. It is good to be alive. There seems to be something coming up out of the earth to fill him with the joy of living. He has learned a deep secret of life. There are two powers in the world — two powers striving for the mastery of the human soul. The one seeks to destroy, the other to save. That is a good thing to know. There are only salva- tion and destruction in the world, anyway. Hereafter Joseph will be better able to distinguish between the two powers and therefore be the more likely to adhere to the good.