An Account Of The Discovery Of Tahiti: From The Journal Of George Robertson, Master Of H. M. S. Dolphin

Description

– Edited, with an Introduction by Oliver Warner

– With Wood engravings by Robert Gibbings

– Printed for Members Only: The Folio Society 1955

“First hand account of the interactions between the crew of HMS Dolphin and the locals on Tahiti in the summer of 1767. The crew were the first Europeans to set foot there. Much of the book deals with trust and communication between the two sides. Aside from some stone throwing at the start the locals were very friendly and the crew found out they could buy all sorts with a nail. All sorts. So much so that nails and spikes were being stolen from parts of the ship itself to pay for some passion.

This Folio Society edition had a good introduction that gave some interesting facts on crew and boat. These included;

The second lieutenant Furneaux went on to command the Adventure a few years later in Captain Cooks second circumnavigation.

Petty Officer John Gore had already made a circumnavigation (on the Dolphin) with Commodore Byron in 1765. Byron being the poets grandfather. Gore was barely home before he joined Cook in the Endeavour, and returned to Tahiti. He also served on Cooks last expedition and brought his body home.

At the time there was a belief that an undiscovered continent existed in the South Pacific between Cape Horn and New Zealand. Their secret mission was to find it.”

Price: R300.00

Edition: First edition

Published: 1955

Publishers: The Folio Society

Condition: Yellow patterned boards with a green spine, in good condition with shelf wear to the spine. Minor foxing / spots on the end-papers, otherwise internally in near-pristine condition.