Ben Wilson

you're more likely to strike up a genuine friendship with someone who can do things for you, who has something to offer, right? So these leaders are happy to see Cook on a professional level, but also on a personal one. And so these genuine friendships and this admiration they have for Captain Cook, it changes something in him.

you're more likely to strike up a genuine friendship with someone who can do things for you, who has something to offer, right? So these leaders are happy to see Cook on a professional level, but also on a personal one. And so these genuine friendships and this admiration they have for Captain Cook, it changes something in him.

Nicholas Thomas writes, what is striking over these few days, however, is not this collision of personalities, but a certain waywardness in Cook.

Nicholas Thomas writes, what is striking over these few days, however, is not this collision of personalities, but a certain waywardness in Cook.

the navigator appears emotionally transported by encounters with prominent men whom he has met before men who are on their part affected at any rate pleased to see him again he writes as lyrically as he ever does about their civility and generosity he scarcely wants to know of the proliferation of petty thefts that are perpetrated against his men which he for the most part neglects to record and refrains from punishing

the navigator appears emotionally transported by encounters with prominent men whom he has met before men who are on their part affected at any rate pleased to see him again he writes as lyrically as he ever does about their civility and generosity he scarcely wants to know of the proliferation of petty thefts that are perpetrated against his men which he for the most part neglects to record and refrains from punishing

Whatever this friendship meant for the chiefs had come to mean something to cook something more important than the trifling misdeeds of their subjects or the annoying grievances of his gentlemen. He was no longer just cook, but a compound self. Okay. So I think what's happening here is. You know, something's changing. He's starting to take the side of the natives much more often.

Whatever this friendship meant for the chiefs had come to mean something to cook something more important than the trifling misdeeds of their subjects or the annoying grievances of his gentlemen. He was no longer just cook, but a compound self. Okay. So I think what's happening here is. You know, something's changing. He's starting to take the side of the natives much more often.

And I think that's actually very understandable. If you think about it in England, James Cook has the respect of the admiralty. Yes, he's met with the king. Yes. However, he is still the son of a peasant. Yes, he's the captain of a ship now. He's an officer. He's done well for himself, but he's still socially capped. He's an interloper in this aristocratic society.

And I think that's actually very understandable. If you think about it in England, James Cook has the respect of the admiralty. Yes, he's met with the king. Yes. However, he is still the son of a peasant. Yes, he's the captain of a ship now. He's an officer. He's done well for himself, but he's still socially capped. He's an interloper in this aristocratic society.

But in Polynesia, he is a nobleman. Kings treat him as an equal. They bring him into their ceremonies. They're friends with him. There's one account from New Zealand where they arrive and there's this elaborate ceremony. They send out five boats, all containing different things to represent different emblems of peace and friendship with Cook.

But in Polynesia, he is a nobleman. Kings treat him as an equal. They bring him into their ceremonies. They're friends with him. There's one account from New Zealand where they arrive and there's this elaborate ceremony. They send out five boats, all containing different things to represent different emblems of peace and friendship with Cook.

And then Cook writes in one version of his journal, quote, I wanted to go to the king, but was told that he would come to me, which he accordingly did. This being done, Ori, that's the name of the king, rose up and came and fell upon my neck and embraced me. This was by no means ceremonious. The tears which trickled down plentifully down his cheeks sufficiently spoke the feelings of his heart.

And then Cook writes in one version of his journal, quote, I wanted to go to the king, but was told that he would come to me, which he accordingly did. This being done, Ori, that's the name of the king, rose up and came and fell upon my neck and embraced me. This was by no means ceremonious. The tears which trickled down plentifully down his cheeks sufficiently spoke the feelings of his heart.

OK, so like, yeah, I mean, this this king is emotionally affected. Does he cook and greets him as a friend and cries and embraces him? OK, so you can see how that kind of affection and respect would attract a man and maybe make him feel more at home in this place where he is a peer of kings than in his his home where he's not. You know, I don't want to exaggerate here.

OK, so like, yeah, I mean, this this king is emotionally affected. Does he cook and greets him as a friend and cries and embraces him? OK, so you can see how that kind of affection and respect would attract a man and maybe make him feel more at home in this place where he is a peer of kings than in his his home where he's not. You know, I don't want to exaggerate here.

Obviously he's kind of a man caught between two worlds. He's not fully going native or anything like that. And he does still punish natives when they steal at times. Um, he can be incredibly harsh sometimes, but his perspective is definitely changing. So, okay. They leave England, they go under Africa. come to New Zealand and make their stops there.

Obviously he's kind of a man caught between two worlds. He's not fully going native or anything like that. And he does still punish natives when they steal at times. Um, he can be incredibly harsh sometimes, but his perspective is definitely changing. So, okay. They leave England, they go under Africa. come to New Zealand and make their stops there.

He has these experiences with these kings and then they go south once again. And they're continually going south, kind of traveling around to see if there's anywhere where they can make it past the ice in order to get at what they hope is a southern icy continent. But they can't do it. And so finally, Cook decides, all right, I've gone as far as anyone can go.

He has these experiences with these kings and then they go south once again. And they're continually going south, kind of traveling around to see if there's anywhere where they can make it past the ice in order to get at what they hope is a southern icy continent. But they can't do it. And so finally, Cook decides, all right, I've gone as far as anyone can go.