A human sacrifice, in a morai, in Otaheite. Drawn by John Webber and engraved by W Woollett. The scene shows a bound and prostrate figure in centre foreground; two men beating drums at left; Cook and officers at right. The chief priest is seated near the feet of the victim, entoning him and gesturing, with other priests seated around him. Behind the priests are the two drummers. Two men are digging a hole for the body. Two other men are broiling and degutting a dog. The whatta contains dogs and pigs sacrificed previously. Behind are the displayed the skulls of earlier sacrifices. Palms and oth
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Album / British Library / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
R5CJPJFile size:
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4963 x 3223 px | 42 x 27.3 cm | 16.5 x 10.7 inches | 300dpiMore information:
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A human sacrifice, in a morai, in Otaheite. Drawn by John Webber and engraved by W Woollett. The scene shows a bound and prostrate figure in centre foreground; two men beating drums at left; Cook and officers at right. The chief priest is seated near the feet of the victim, entoning him and gesturing, with other priests seated around him. Behind the priests are the two drummers. Two men are digging a hole for the body. Two other men are broiling and degutting a dog. The whatta contains dogs and pigs sacrificed previously. Behind are the displayed the skulls of earlier sacrifices. Palms and other trees and vegetation are in the background. The ceremony took place on 1 September 1777. . A collection of drawings by A. Buchan, S. Parkinson, and J. F. Miller, made in the Countries visited by Captain James Cook in his First Voyage [1768-1771], also of prints published in John Hawksworth's Voyages of Biron [Byron], Wallis, and Cook [1773], as well as in Cook's second and third Voyages [1772-1775, 1776-1780]. 1768-1780. Captain Cook's third voyage. Source: Add.23921 f.30.