5 - Fellow travelling

Summary

It is true that, even between people who are foreign and strange to one another, nature encourages the development of a friendly feeling. But in such cases the sentiment lacks a solid basis.

– Cicero

On 12 July 1769, Joseph Banks recorded with delight in his journal that the high-ranking Society Islander Tupaia had resolved to travel to England in the Endeavour:

This morn Tupia came on board, he had renewed his resolves of going with us to England, a circumstance which gives me much satisfaction. He is certainly a most proper man, well born, cheif Tahowa or preist of this Island, consequently skilld in the mysteries of their religion; but what makes him more than any thing else desireable is his experience in the navigation of these people and knowledge of the Islands in these seas; he has told us the names of above 70, the most of which he has himself been at. The Cap^tn refuses to take him on his own account, in my opinion sensibly enough, the goverment will never in all human probability take any notice of him; I therefore have resolvd to take him. Thank heaven I have a sufficiency and I do not know why I may not keep him as a curiosity, as well as some of my neighbours do lions and tygers at a larger expence than he will probably ever put me to; the amusement I shall have in his future conversation and the benefit he will be to this ship, as well as what he may be if another should be sent into these seas, will I think fully repay me.

(Banks 1962: I, 312–13)