Historical location
Captain James Cook
30 septembre 1777
Captain James Cook Journal
Captain James Cook with Omai (including Captain Bligh), 2 ships, 182 men.
“This harbour, which is called Taloo, is situated upon the north side of the island, in the district of Oboonohoo, or Poonohoo. It runs in south, or south by east, between the hills, above two miles. For security and goodness of its bottom, it is not inferior to any harbour that I have met with at any of the islands in this ocean ; and it has this advantage over most of them, that a ship can sail in and out with the reigning trade-wind ; so that the access and recess are equally easy.”
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Omai
Omai (or Mai, born in Raiatea around 1751, died in Huahine in 1779) was a tahu'a known to have accompanied one of Captain James Cook's expeditions.Around the age of 11, he left Raiatea and settled in Tahiti with his parents. There he served the Tahitian monarchy as tahu'a.In August 1773, he joined the British ship HMS Adventure, under the command of Captain Tobias Furneaux, when the latter visited Polynesia. HMS Adventure was part of Captain James Cook's second expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Cook aimed to explore the unknown regions of this ocean.Omai accompanied the British to London, where he learned about London society, with Sir Joseph Banks as his guide. He was presented to King George III. He was the first Oceanian to visit the UK. He lived there from 1774 to 1776, integrating into British high society, regularly attending balls, Royal Society dinners, and visiting the opera house.In 1776, he took part in Cook's third voyage, which brought him back to Huahine. Omai served as his interpreter with the Polynesian peoples during the two voyages in which he took part.When William Bligh visited Tahiti in 1789, he learned that Omai had died in 1779.His stay in London had aroused the curiosity and imagination of the British. In 1785, writer John O'Keefe staged a play called Omai – A Voyage ‘round the World. The play was performed at Covent Garden.
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