The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cannibal Islands, by R.M. Ballantyne

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Title: The Cannibal Islands
Captain Cook's Adventure in the South Seas

Author: R.M. Ballantyne

Release Date: October 31, 2007 [EBook #23267]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

The Cannibal Islands, by R.M. Ballantyne.

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This book describes some of the voyages of Captain Cook to Tahiti and
other islands in the Pacific. Tahiti had been previously discovered by
a Captain Wallis, and Cook was sent out there in order to make some
astronomical observations that could not be done in Europe. The island
was very verdant, and it was scarcely necessary for its people to work
at all, so that they were very indolent. They were also inclined to
steal, although they realised that it was wrong to do so.

There is a description of some of the more revolting habits of certain
Pacific islanders, for instance preparing the body of a slain rival so
that it could be "worn" by slipping the head through a hole made right
in the middle of the body. There was also cannibalism on some of the
islands, which of course laid people open to CJD and similar diseases
that are slow to take effect, but very devastating when they do.

The book tells in great detail the final episode of his life when he was
murdered by the islanders, whom he had been so glad to know.

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THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.

CHAPTER ONE.

A HERO WHO ROSE FROM THE RANKS.

More than a hundred years ago, there lived a man who dwelt in a mud
cottage in the county of York; his name was Cook. He was a poor, honest
labourer--a farm servant. This man was the father of that James Cook
who lived to be a captain in the British Navy, and who, before he was
killed, became one of the best and greatest navigators that ever spread
his sails to the breeze and crossed the stormy sea.

Captain Cook was a true hero. His name is known throughout the whole