David Samwell

A Narrative of the Death of Captain James Cook David Samwell

Mr. Samwell's object is to prove that captain Cook did not lose his life in consequence of inattention, ralhness, or an unwarrantable contempt of the spirit of the islanders; but rom an unfortunate concurrence of circumstances, and the mistake of the gentleman who commanded the launch. The relation of the catastrophe differs in this respect, and in some other less important circumstances, from the narrative of captain King. Mr. Samwell thinks that the jealousy of the natives was not roused by the return of the ships; that the few people seen in the harbour was owing to accident, and the taboo was a necessary ceremony, before the renewal of the commercial and friendly connections.