Captain Cook and his Turunga captives

Tu Tangata, Issue 26, 1 October 1985, Page 30

Captain Cook and his Turunga captives

This is a strange and almost unknown story. It is the story of three young Maori boys taken captive by Captain Cook, the boys being the very first Maori to meet Europeans in friendship and trust despite earlier misunderstanding and conflict. It was as a result of the understanding between Captain Cook and the Maori boys that fighting ended at Turunga (Gisborne, and peace made between the Ngati Porou tribe and the great English navigator and explorer. It is a tribal peace that has lasted for over two hundred years.

When Captain Cook first landed at Turunga in October 1769, he was attacked by Maori warriors. So he returned to his ship, the Endeavour, and sailed along the coast. But with a plan. He would capture, if possible, some Maori and with gifts obtain their friendship. After which, he would release them and, hopefully, make contact with their people.

Shortly after sailing, two small Maori fishing canoes were sighted; one with sail, the other with paddlers. After a wild chase by seamen in a long-boat, the canoe under sail got away. But the waka or canoe being paddled was caught up with, and its crew of three Maori boys taken aboard the Endeavour after they had bravely dived into the sea and tried to escape.

Brought aboard the ship, the boys at first showed fear. But after a short while they realised they were in no danger. Through kindness Captain Cook gave them confidence and they cheerfully answered all his questions through a Tahitian interpreter named Tupia. They also showed great curiousity, which impressed Cook who, later wrote: ‘Their countenances were

intelligent and expressive’. The eldest boy of about 19 was named Taahourange, while his brother (aged 15) was Koikerange a boy Captain Cook described as being very openfaced and confident in a ‘most striking way’. The youngest was named Maragovete, a boy about 11 years old.

That night (Bth October), the boys slept aboard the Endeavour. They went to bed, Captain Cook records, with great contentment. But during the night, they woke up in fear and began praying and singing to their gods while Tupia watched over them. However, the next morning they were once more cheerful and ate an ‘enormous meal’ before being dressed in ships clothing and ‘adorned with bracelets, anklets and necklaces of shell’ collected in Tahiti. When told that they were to be put ashore the boys were happy. That is, until they realised that they were to be landed on enemy territory. Understanding the boys fear, Captain Cook returned to Turunga and put them ashore. Here they thanked the captain and made their way to Turunga

paa, their home village, while Captain Cook and some of his men went shooting duck in a nearby swamp. Suddenly, a taua or formation of about 200 warriors appeared fully armed with clubs and spears and began drawing up battle lines.... In great danger, Captain Cook and his men quickly made for the long-boats just as the boys reappeared.

With a shout, the youngest boy (Maragovete) rushed forward to the fierce, army of warriors and halted the attack by appeals to one of the leading chiefs an uncle. After giving account of his experiences aboard the Endeavour, and telling of the great kindness of Captain Cook, Maragovete persuaded his uncle and other chiefs of the taua to make peace with the strangers. Which was done after much ceremony. At sunset, the Endeavour sailed from Turunga and Captain Cook continued his exploration of the New Zealand coast. In his journal, he wrote with some feeling for the three Maori boys who he last saw standing alone on the beach waving to him as the ship made its way to the open sea.