The Trial of the Cannibal Dog: Captain Cook in the South Seas
by Anne Salmond
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Description
In this rich and stylish description by New Zealand scholar Salmond, Cook's voyages take on a peculiar, dreamlike quality. Salmond's claim is that Cook was far more affected by his exposure to the Polynesian world than historians have thought. This book is fascinating as an incomparable travelogue filled with amazing stories - the sexual paradise of Tahiti, the 'discovery' of Hawaii, close relations with Maori, and Cook's tragic death on the beach in Hawaii. The 'trial' of the title followed show more a horrific incident in New Zealand's Queen Charlotte Sound when Maori killed and ate a boatload of Cook's men. Later, sailors caught a dog guzzling a pink remnant, put the dog on trial, then convicted, cooked and ate it. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
There are many books which follow the explorations of Capt. James Cook as he traversed the South Seas. This volume, however, looks at Cook's discoveries from an anthroplogical point of view, telling about his encounters with the indiginous people of Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga, Hawaii and other locations. Meticulous research went into the writing of this book, and the author has spared no detail in telling this very fascinating history. She looks at the way Cook and his sailors interacted with the natives, how their cultures clashed, how they were harmonious. South Pacific languages, trading goods, religious worship, warfare, sexual practices, ceremony, dance, navagation, crime and murder - all these subjects and more are contained show more within the book's pages. A very readable, and very thorough, endeavor. show less
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Author Information
14+ Works 529 Members
Anne Salmond is a Distinguished Professor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Auckland.
Awards and Honors
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Captain James Cook, RN, FRS
- Important places
- Pacific Ocean; New Zealand
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Travel, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 910.92 — History & geography Geography & travel modified standard subdivisions of Geography and travel Explorers & Travelers Geographers, travellers, explorers regardless of country of origin
- LCC
- G420 .C68 .S25 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Geography (General) Special voyages and travels
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 204
- Popularity
- 159,677
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 4


























































