Voyage
p. 41 · Read in the full issue
Relic of Cook’s Second Voyage Medallion Found in New Caledonia
A FIND of considerable interest to Australians has been made in the Diahot Valley of northern New Caledonia by a planter named Jacques.
While digging up the site of an old native dwelling he came, at a depth of 18 inches, on a bronze medal bearing the inscription George 11, King of Great Britain and Ireland. On the reverse side was an engraving of the two ships Resolution and Adventure, and the words “Sailed from England March 1772.”
This medallion was undoubtedly struck in England to commemorate Cook’s departure on his second Pacific voyage of discovery, the voyage on which he came upon the island of New Caledonia and spent some davs, gaining a favourable opinion of the natives, at Balade in the Diahot region. The date of his discovery and naming of New Caledonia was Sep tember 4, 1774, and 22 days later he dis covered and named the Isle of Pines.
Prominent features of the coastline still bear the names he gave them, names such as Cape Colnett (after the lookout who first spotted the island) and Botany Island off the south coast.
It is likely that the medallion will find its way into the Noumea Museum which has a notable, though neglected, collection ol native objects and artifacts.—HELP.