Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Explorers of the Pacific: European and American Discoveries in Polynesia

George Mortimer

George Mortimer

1789

The Mercury, a fine copper-bottomed vessel, was built at Deptford to engage in the fur trade on the northwest American coast. It was owned and commanded by Captain John Henry Cox, but its story was told by George Mortimer, a lieutenant of marines who sailed with Cox. The ship left from Gravesend on February 26, 1789, and sailed via the Cape of Good Hope. As Cox wished to see some of the south sea islands before going page 39north, he kept to the south and picked up Amsterdam Island, where 1,000 seal skins of very superior quality were obtained. The neighboring island of St. Paul was seen and Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) was reached on July 6. The Mercury entered the south Pacific, and on August 9 passed the island of Toobouai (Tubuai) in the Australs. The ship anchored in Matavai Bay, Tahiti, on August 12. After friendly intercourse with the people on Tahiti and Eimeo (Moorea), Cox sailed north on September 2, stopping at Tetteroa (Tetiaroa) on the way. He sighted Hawaii on September 20 and anchored in Kealakekua Bay two days later. King Kamehameha and Kaiana visited the ship and the king presented Captain Cox with a helmet and two beautiful cloaks "richly interwoven with scarlet and yellow feathers." Cox had seen Kaiana earlier at Canton, where, because of his physique, the Chinese called him Great Stranger.

Cox sailed for the north on September 25, passing Maui, and seeing Molokai and Oahu in the distance. October and part of November were spent along the northwest coast. Then the ship sailed south, reaching Saypan (Saipan) Island, Tinian, and Aguigan on December 12 and finally arrived at Canton on January 1, 1790. The references to the people of Tahiti and Hawaii are brief but useful.