Honour, Mana, and Agency in Polynesian-European Conflict by Annette Wilkes

Author:Annette Wilkes [Wilkes, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780367731113
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2020-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

The social actors

Captain Tobias Furneaux had Devon–Cornish connections and has been described by Beaglehole as “humane … an excellent executive rather than ruminative … a good seaman … not really an explorer”. He had been a second lieutenant in the Dolphin under Wallis in the Pacific, and George Robinson, the master described him as “a Gentele Agreeable Well behaved Good man and very humain to all the Ship’s company” (Australian Dictionary of Biography, online, 12 June 2012). These comments by an officer contemporary of Furneaux are borne out by casual references to his actions during the Adventure voyage that were recorded by various crew members. Whilst he tended to remain aboard ship at Queen Charlotte Sound when they were not accompanied by Cook and his crew, Furneaux was cautious and conscientious about the welfare of his men, several times sending a boat’s crew with assistance when he had the feeling that their help may be required.

Furneaux intervened when his officers were about to seriously injure Bayly during an altercation at sea. According to Bayly’s own journal, he was a sober man and apparently did not mix much with the officers. While they were in the Tasman Sea, having been separated from Resolution in the Southern Ocean, the officers had a serious drinking session, and tried to break down Bayly’s cabin door and force him to give them more alcohol, but they were caught out by the captain.

At Queen Charlotte Sound, Furneaux once sent a boat to Bayly’s camp on Hippah Island and ordered the astronomer, his assistants and guards, to return to the ship when he saw a waka heading in that direction (Bayly, journal, 27 March, 9 April 1773). Although Furneaux seems to have delegated responsibility for the command of the shore camp entirely to Burney, he also sent a boat ashore to render assistance when those aboard the Adventure heard the sound of Bayly’s gunshot. Furthermore, he had concern for the effects of venereal disease brought upon the local Māori women – a concern he shared with Cook when they were departing for the winter voyage (G. Forster, in Thomas & Berghof, 2000: 135–7).

Lieutenant James Burney was the 23-year old son of Charles Burney, musician and author. He was sent to sea at ten years of age as the personal servant of a ship’s captain. After enlisting as a midshipman on the Resolution, he was promoted to second lieutenant on the Adventure in November 1772, taking the place of Joseph Shank because of the latter’s promotion to the Resolution: “Burney … is our personality on board the Adventure … one of the most interesting of Cook’s officers, a thorough seaman … lively, observant … articulate … the great scholar of Pacific exploration” (Beaglehole, 1974: 288–301). He must have had some facility in the Tahitian language, as he became the interpreter for “Omai” – whose Polynesian name was Mai – during a visit to England via Queen Charlotte Sound after the third visit of the second voyage. Mai, in turn was helpful with translating for Cook’s party during that visit.

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