Captain Cook Hears Our Native Birds

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 19

Captain Cook Hears Our Native Birds

New Zealanders greatly appreciate the notes of the bellbird, even though they may often have heard it. It is interesting to lovers) of early New Zealand history to read what Captain Cook thought when he first hoard the bellbird’s song, on Wednesday, January 17. 1770. It was in Queen Charlotte Sound, and the ship lay at a distance of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the shore. Captain Cook says: “In the morning we were awakened by the singing of the birds: the number was Incredible, and they seemed to strain their throats in emulation of each other. This wild melody was infinitely superior- to any that we had ever beard of the same kind; it seemed to be like small bells, most exquisitely tuned, and perhaps the distance, and the water between, might be no small advantage to the sound. Upon inquiry, we‘were informed that the birds here always began to sing after two hours after midnight, and continuing their music till sunrise, were, like our nightingales, silent the rest of the day.” Captain Cook wrote almost humorously of some of the customs noted by him amongst the Maoris—whom he called Indians. On January 30, 1770, he sent a boar to one of the islands for celery, and while the people were gathering it a party of Maori men, women, ami children landed by boat near some empty huts. “As> soon as they were on shore, five or six of the women sat down upon the ground together, and began to cut their legs, arms, and faces, with shells, and sharp pieces of tale or jasper (probably greenstone) in a terrible manner. Our people understood that their husbands had lately been killed by their enemies; but. while they were performing this horrid ceremony, the men set about repairing the huts with the utmost negligence and unconcern.— J.H., (Hastings).