The Chief of Sta Christina.

Rare c.18th engraved portrait of the Chief of Santa Cristina (Tahuata), from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s second voyage.

‘When dress’d they wear on the fore head as an ornament a curious fillet of shell work decorated with feathers etc, round the neck a kind of Ruff made of wood decorated with small red pease which are stuck and tyed round the legs and arms; in this manner was the chief who came to visit us dress’d. (Cook Journal II, 375.)

Cook visited the Marquesas; 8 – 12 April 1774. Resolution Bay is now called Vaitahu Bay.

While there Cook also noted; ‘Their canoes are made of wood and pieces of the Bark of a soft wood, which grows near the Sea in great plenty, and is very tough and proper for the purpose; They are from 16 to 20 feet long and about 15 inches broad. The head and stern is made of two pieces of Wood, the Stern rises or curves a little, but in an irregular direction and ends in a point; the head projects out horizontally and is carved into some faint and very rude resemblance of a human face. They are rowed by Paddles and some have a sort of Latteen sail made of Mating’. (Cook, Journals II, 376). Resolution Bay is now called Vaitahu Bay.

The first Europeans to reach the Marquesas may have been the crew members aboard the San Lesmes, a Spanish vessel that disappeared in a storm in June 1526; it was part of an expedition headed by García Jofre de Loaisa. The Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana reached them nearly 70 years later, on 21 July 1595.

From Cook’s, 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.

References:
Beddie, M. Bibliography of Captain James Cook, RN,FRS, Circumnavigator. Sydney 1970: 1381-36, p.267
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 358.
Joppien,R. & Smith, B. The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages; Vol. I, II & III. Melbourne 1985-1987: 2.105A, ill.p.207
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967. 16245.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 90039
State Library New South Wales: RECORD IDENTIFIER 74VvMokVOlGA / 74VvMoxg6JJX