| As the year of 1778 neared its conclusion, thousands | | | | O'why'he. The same historian might be more |
| of natives on an island in what is now called Hawaii | | | | confused, after reading a follow-up entry. |
| walked to the shore of that island. No doubt, a large | | | | Later in Cook's journal, one can find this statement: |
| number of those same people wore Hawaiian toe | | | | "The very instant I leaped ashore, they all fell flat on |
| rings. Of course, they did not call them "Hawaiian toe | | | | their faces and remained in that humble posture till I |
| rings". When they spoke of their island they used the | | | | made signs to them to rise". In other words, there |
| word "O'why'he". | | | | was a point during which Cook could not easily study |
| Why did so many natives wearing Hawaiian toe rings | | | | the face of an island native. Did he not notice any of |
| walk to that one shore point during the late autumn | | | | the Hawaiian toe rings at that point? Why did he not |
| of 1778? They came to the shore to welcome the | | | | mention them in his journal? |
| arrival of a boat - a boat captained by James Cook. | | | | Perhaps Cook was so overwhelmed by the flora of |
| Cook's arrival on the island in 1778 was his second | | | | the islands that he forgot to mention the jewelry |
| and also his last trip to Hawaii. | | | | worn by some of the island natives. Cook wrote in |
| Cook wrote a good deal about the Hawaiian natives | | | | his journal that the island flowers "sent forth the |
| in his journal. After his first visit to Hawaii he penned | | | | most fragrant smell I had anywhere met with". |
| these words: "I never saw Indians so astonished at | | | | Overcome with that smell, Cook may well have |
| the entering of a ship before...their eyes were | | | | drawn a blank, as he tried to recall all the details |
| continually flying from object to object." | | | | about foot jewelry of the island natives. |
| That entry indicates that Cook had his eyes focused | | | | Besides, James Cook would never have made |
| on the faces of those who came out to great him. | | | | mention of something called Hawaiian toe rings, |
| After reading that same entry, an historian could | | | | because he did not refer to the islands that he had |
| probably understand Cook's reason for making no | | | | discovered as Hawaii. He called them the Sandwich |
| mention of any toe rings worn by the residents of | | | | Islands. |