Tahiti's Bay of Matavai

Tahiti’s Bay of Matavai by Wayne Dixon Captain Cook was not the first explorer to land at the Bay of Matavai at the South Pacific island of Tahiti. By the time he arrived in the 1700’s, the area was well known. His mission was to document the crossing of the planet Venus across the face of the sun. By comparing other world-wide observations, the earth’s distance from the sun could be determined. This distance now known as one astronomical unit would later become one of the measuring yard-sticks of the known universe. Captain Cook’s published journals opened the door of interest and opportunity of other adventurers including other explorers, missionaries, whalers and traders. They all came to Tahiti’s Bay of Matavai. Among the explorers who came was Frenchman Louis-Antoine de Bougainville for whom the tropical scarlet flower was named. Captain William Bligh returned to Tahiti in 1791. He had been there before with Captain Cook as part of his crew. He came again for breadfruit plants thought to provided economical nutrition for slaves. Unfortunately Bligh treated his crew like slaves and they rebelled, giving rise to Norman Hall’s “Mutiny on the Bounty” of literary and film reknown. We toured his home in Tahiti and purchased his colorful biography signed by his daughter. In 1796 the London Missionary Society began sending missionaries to Tahiti and other neighboring islands. They arrived at Matavai Bay aboard the Duff captained by James Wilson in March, 1797. Captain Bligh’s vacated house on Matavai Bay became the first mission location. Things did not go as anticipated. Some took the first ship out to Australia. In 1800 twelve replacements arrived, but even many of these did not stay. Henry Nott, the English bricklayer persevered to learn Tahitian, to preach in it, and to translate portions of the Bible. His efforts are commemorated in a state holiday every March 5 throughout Tahiti.