'The Gale Abating' by Robin Brooks

'The Gale Abating' by Robin Brooks

Open Edition Print
Image Size 25.5 X 33 cm

This print is only available rolled in a postal tube.

On the tomb in the Churchyard of Stoke Damerel Parish Church in Plymouth
there is this inscription -
" In memory of Captain Tobias Furneaux R.N, the first man to circumnavigate the world east to west, and west to east in his ship H.M.S. Adventure on his voyages of discovery with Captain James Cook"

No better man could have been given command of the ship that was chosen to accompany Captain James Cook on his second voyage 1772 -1775. He was already experienced, having sailed as second lieutenant with Wallace on the frigate Dolphin in 1766-68. On a voyage in which he distinguished himself, when Captain Wallace and other senior officers were taken ill, Tobias was in command.

The Second Voyage

Resolution and Adventure sailed from Plymouth on July 13th 1772, arriving in Cape Town in October and sailing again on 23rd November. The Ship's course was south, crossing the Antarctic Circle on 17th January 1773. They were the first men to do so. Plans were made in case of their separation to rendezvous in Queen Charlotte's Sound - New Zealand. Through-out this time the ships were probing southwards in search of the fabled Southern Continent.

Separation

On the 8th February the ships became separated in thick fog. Failing to find each other the Resolution continued the search of the Southern Ocean before charting the east coast of Tasmania. Furneaux landed in a bay which was to be called Adventure Bay, before continuing up the coast and discovering a group of islands which Cook was to name the Furneaux Group. From there she was to make her way to Queen Charlottes Sound.

In the mean time Cook, had made his land-fall on New Zealand's South Island where they explored and spent some considerable time before rendezvousing with Adventure. The plan was to spend the following months researching the tropical Pacific before heading back to Queen Charlottes Sound to prepare for another Antarctic search. On approaching the New Zealand coast they met severe weather conditions which lasted many days and on the 30th October lost contact again with the Adventure. After this terrible battering they made their way eventually to Queen Charlotte's Sound arriving in mid November. Having taken on much need supplies Cook prepared to leave Queen Charlotte's Sound feeling almost convinced that Furneaux and his entire crew had perished.None the less he left a message in a bottle under a tree with a note carved -
"Look Under Here" The Resolution spent some days searching the coast before sailing southward into the Antarctic regions. Adventure made Tolga Bay before sailing for Queen Charlotte's Sound, where they arrived just days after Resolution had left.Furneaux found Cook's message and hurriedly set about preparing his ship for sea. Realising there was no point in chasing after Cook, he determined to carry out his orders independently.

Cannibalism

The day before the ship was due to leave he sent the large cutter under the command of his relative , Midshipman John Rowe. They were too search for wild celery or green vegetables. The boat did not return, and a second boat was sent to look for them. Now a saddening and grisly episode was to be revealed, for the remains of several body parts, shoes and a hand were found. The boat crew, Midshipman John Rowe and Tobias's man servant, had all been hacked to death and partly eaten by the Maoris. This horrible incident affected the whole ship's company, and Adventure sailed the next morning into the vast Southern Ocean, searching for the Great Southern Land. Tobias in melancholy mood was to write -

"The birds were the only companions we had in the vast ocean, except now and then we saw a whale or porpoise".

He was unlucky in narrowly missing discovering some sub Antarctic islands, including South Georgia. Eventually he turned north to Cape Town and from there to England. To England he brought news of Cook's discoveries. They had brought a native of the Society Islands called Omai who caused a sensation, and was introduced to King George III. Resolution was to return home in 1775, and Cook had proved conclusively that there was no habitual Southern continent. Omai himself was to sail on the Resolution on Cook's third voyage returning to his Pacific paradise.



Robin Brooks - Marine Painter |   Kirsty Bonning - Landscape Painter |   Rupert W Brooks - Portrait & Figure Painter

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