British Empire Article


Fort Venus


In Matavai Bay Cook established a fortified base, Fort Venus, from which he was to complete his first task - the observation of the Transit of Venus (3rd June 1769). The fort also served as protection for all the important scientific and other equipment which had to be taken ashore as: "great and small chiefs and common men are firmly of opinion that if they can once get possession of an thing it immediately becomes their own...the chiefs employd in stealing what they could in the cabbin while their dependents took every thing that was loose about the ship..."


We Come in Peace Article


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by Stephen
Luscombe