Lost Treasure Of

Tahiti

Captain Cook's Portrait

By W. W. Bolton, Ma

WHILST he was at Matavai, on his last visit to Tahiti, Captain Cook gave his portrait, painted by Web ber, the official artist aboard, to the natives, in return for their many kind nesses.

It was placed in charge of Haapai’i, the old-time Chief of Matavai, grand father of the then Boy Chief (later known as the Second Pomare). For sev eral years all vessels making that port had their names and that of their cap tain inscribed at the back, with the date.

That this portrait, painted in 1777, was in perfect condition and preserved with assiduous care in 1790, when the “Bounty’s” mutineers were dwelling on the island, is to be seen by Morrison’s account concerning it, which is of lively interest. He writes in his Journal; — “On the Ist of February, our attention was drawn from our work on the schooner by a Hira, to which all the inhabitants of the district were assembled.

Everything being ready, Captain Cook’s picture was brought out by an old man, who has the charge of it, and placed in front, and the cloth with which it was covered being removed, every person pre sent paid homage by stripping off their upper garments, Paitea, Chief of Mata vai, not excepted. The master of the ceremonies than made a long speech to the picture, acknowledging Captain Cook to be Chief of Matavai, and placing a young plantain tree with a sucking-pig tied to it before the picture, made a speech running to this purpose. ‘Hail! All hail! Cook, Chief of Air, Earth and Water. We acknowledge you chief from the beach to the mountains, over men, trees and cattle, over the birds of the air and fishes of the sea.’ After which they performed their dances.”

No mention is made of the picture by the missionaries of 1797, but this may possibly be explained by the fact that much of their earlier Daily Journal unfortunately never reached the Home land.

The portrait vanished. The most likely end to it came in that disastrous year, 1808, when Matavai was ravaged.

All went up in flames, as the heathen party from the south wiped out that settlement of both natives and white folk, Haapai’i’s home, and the precious portrait amongst the debris.”