Episode Details

Tahiti and the Challenges of Resettling Mai. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. The expedition arrived in Tahiti in August 1777, where the crew was eager for recreation. Cook's primary task was finding a home for Mai, who had returned from England with a hoard of treasures, including muskets and armor. Cook worried about Mai's status as a commoner and tried to arrange a marriage for him to protect his wealth, but Mai refused. Sides also highlights the importance of the "red feather" trade; Cook had discovered that these feathers were a royal currency in the islands, effectively allowing him to "change the economy" to secure supplies. Despite the idyllic setting, Cook's internal pressures and concerns for Mai's precarious future continued to mount. 4
1876 FIJI