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Hello and welcome to the Explorers Podcast. This is Part 7 in our series on

British Mariner, James Cook. The only note for today is to check out our

website, Explorers Podcasts.com. If you want to see maps of Cook's voyages, otherwise let's get going.

Last time we left Cook, Resolution and Adventure into Heady, it was August of 1773.

Cook had returned to Heady to find much had changed in the past few years. Other European ships had

come to the region and they had brought diseases which had taken their toll on the islanders,

and the sudden influx of European goods had made the island much more commerce-oriented.

This had changed the islanders, something Cook lamented. He looked at the Tehesions in sort of

an idealized way. They were innocent, friendly and happy. Cook admired the simple but satisfying

lifestyle these people had. He viewed himself as a protective father to the natives,

and it sat in him when they saw that they were being corrupted by Europeans.

They had become covetous and greedy, Cook had the same attitude toward the Maori of New Zealand,

although these feelings weren't as powerful. Another thing Cook found into Heady was war.

Island politics were always volatile, but with the dramatic social changes taking place,

it was even more so. Many of the friends and allies of Cook were now gone, either dead or driven

away. Still, when Cook arrived at Teheady, the natives swarmed out to the ships,

eager to trade, and is noted by everyone, steel. The islanders were quick to take anything they

could with their hands on. The rival to Heady meant fruit and vegetables, which was a boon to

the men of the expedition, and especially the crew of Adventure, many of whom were suffering from

scurvy. And then there were sex to be had, which always helped morale.

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