NOTE: This is part seven of a thirteen part article. Enjoy!!!
Part VII – Polynesian History (1595 – Present)
Moorea's Opunohu Bay, This is paradise!
On behalf of England, James Cook visited Tahiti three times between 1769 and 1779. His era of exploration is historically significant because the expeditions were scientific in nature. Cook was sent to the South Pacific to track the transit of Venus as it passed between the sun and the earth. The information was needed to improve celestial navigation and map making. His other task was to discover a huge continent in the Southern Hemisphere, a land mass that did not exist. Although unsuccessful in both of these tasks, Cook’s expeditions were the first organized attempt to chronicle Polynesian culture in great detail. Backed by the Royal Society of England, he visited numerous islands and the sub-continents of Australia and New Zealand. Today Cook is remembered in Moorea. In the shadow of Mt. Rotui on Moorea’s north coast is a pair of twin bays, Cook’s and Opunohu. Although the eastern bay is named after James Cook, it is thought that Cook first anchored his ship in lovely Opunohu Bay. Mel Gibson’s remake of Mutiny on the Bounty in 1984 was filmed in Opunohu Bay.
Behind Moorea's Mt. Rotui; Opunohu and Cook's Bay are visible
Cook’s team was comprised of enthusiastic associates including naturalist Joseph Banks. Banks, who invested heavily in the expeditions with 10,000 pounds of his own money, a fortune at the time, literally bought his way onto the expedition. At the young age of 23, Banks was a prolific collector and amassed a huge collection of plants, insects, and animals that can still be seen in London’s Natural History Museum. Banks would foster his relationship with the Royal Society of England, going on to a leadership role that lasted 40 years. In the 1700s, explorers backed by the Royal Society had “rock star” status. Banks brought with him a talented illustrator named Sydney Parkinson. Unfortunately Parkinson died of Malaria at the age of 26 before returning to his native England. Fortunately, he left a treasure of detailed illustrations of Polynesian life that included the first depictions of tribal tattoo art. By gaining the confidence and friendship of native Polynesians, Banks was the first European to observe and participate in native ceremonies. He learned the native language and created a dictionary.
Cook’s expedition chronicled Polynesian culture. They found a proud race of indigenous natives, proficient in navigation and art, sometimes hostile, sporting amazing body tattoos instead of clothes, living in harmony with their environment, practicing human sacrifice and cannibalism, and free sexuality. However, it was the reports of scantly clad “Venus” like Polynesian women performing provocative dances and sexual favors that had the most impact on English society.
More to follow, Part VIII is on its way. Suzan
