The Tahitians attack the 'Dolphin'

ROOKER, E.

No. 21. [A representation of the attack of Captain Wallis in the Dolphin by the natives of Otaheite.]
London: Strachan & Cadell, 1773. 330 x 240mm.

View of Samuel Wallis's ship, the 'Dolphin', under attack from the Tahitians. Having arrived in Matavai Bay on 17 June 1767, the ship was approached by a large canoe: when the Tahitians launched a hail of stones at the ship Wallis replied with grapeshot, breaking the canoe in half and killing most on board. The ship's carpenters then went ashore and cut all the canoes they could find in two. After this show of strength friendly relations were established. This print was engraved by E. Rooker for Hawkesworth's 'An account of the voyages undertaken by the order of His present Majesty for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere', which contained the official account of Cook's First Circumnavigation. The title, as above, comes from the index of plates.


Stock ID : 13809