Mark's Pages

"During his previous visits to Tahiti, Captain Cook had not yet charted Mo'orea, off the west coast. Guided by Ma'i in his canoe, the ships headed to island; and when they arrived, Cook sent Bligh ahead in the boats to sound and survey Papeto'ai Bay. According to Samwell, this spectacular inlet was 'one of the best Harbours we have met with among the South Sea Islands'; while Gilbert remarked: 'At the head of this Harbour is a very fertile and delightful valley, with a large rivulet of excellent water running thro' it. It is entirely surrounded with hills, and high steep cliffs affording a great variety of the most pleasing and romantic prospects I ever beheld.' [...] The ships were crawling with rats, so Cook ordered the vessels to be moored by ropes to the trees, allowing these vermin to escape ashore." — Anne Salmond, Bligh