Captain Cook's visit to Savu
In 1770,
Captain James Cook visited Savu, staying three
days before continuing on to Batavia. It was the
first European voyage to have scientists on
board. During the three year expedition,
botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander
collected over three thousand five hundred plant
species along with specimens of animals, minerals
and ethnographic materials that on their return
fascinated Europeans.
Cook’s visit to Savu was brief and, though
he and Joseph Banks produced detailed records of
the island and its people, their accounts were
based for the most part on information provided
by Mr Lange, the German representative of the
Dutch East India Company, who was stationed on
Savu at the time.
Historical documents:
- Chief's
house on Savu: This pen and wash
drawing was done by Sydney Parkinson, who
accompanied Captain Cook on his 1768-1771
voyage of the South Seas.
- Cook's
journal: 21st September 1770:
"Before we proceed any farther it
will be proper in this place to say
something of the island we have been last
at, which is call'd by the Natives
Savu..."
- Description
of Savu, its Produce and Inhabitants:
"This island is called by the
natives SAVU; the middle of it lies in
about the latitude 10° 35’ S.,
longitude 237° 30’ W.; and has in
general been so little known that I never
saw a map or chart in which it is clearly
or accurately laid down...."
- Banks’
journal: 20st September 1770:
"In the morning early the Captain
went ashore himself to purchase
Buffeloes. He was shewn two, one of which
they valued at five guineas the other a
musquet; he offerd 3 guineas for the one
and sent for a musquet to give for the
other...."
- The
Endeavour departs Savu:
"In the morning of Friday the 21st
of September, 1770, we got under sail,
and stood away to the westward, along the
north side of the island of Savu, and of
the smaller that lies to the westward of
it [Rai Jua], which at noon bore from us
S.S.E. distant two leagues."
Resources:
- New
Endeavour: A modern
journey to revisit the landfalls made by
Captain James Cook during his famous
first Pacific voyage in HMS Endeavour
(1768-1771).
- South
Seas: Voyaging and
cross-cultural encounters in the Pacific
(1760-1800).
- Captain
James Cook (1728-1779):
Celebrated North Country Navigator.
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