Boats of the Friendly Isles.

Rare engraving from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s second voyage. All other later copies made of this image by other publishers were unauthorised, usually
smaller and inferior in quality.

Following the Resolution‘s visit to Tonga group, 26 to 29 June 1774, William Hodges made a number of drawings of their canoes.

‘No canoes that we have seen in these seas can bear the least Comparison with these in point of neatness and workmanship’. Cook Journals II, 848.

References; Beddie 1381-42, p.268, Joppien 1.74 ill.p.274

From, Cook, A Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World, performed in His Majesty’s Ships the Resolution and Adventure, In the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775.