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This engraving depicts three sail boars crewed by Polynesians in Tonga. Each boat has a small structure on a platform for storage of supplies or to provide the crew shelter from the elements. Captain Cook discovered the islands of Tonga in October, 1773 and returned in 1774. He named the island the Friendly Isles because of the warm reception he and his crew of his two ships Resolution and Adventure received. By some accounts by sailors who were there, the Tongans had actually planned to attack Cook, but the action was called off when they could not agree whether to attack during the day or at night.
The engraving is printed on laid chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 9.63" in height and 15.25" in width. There is a small chip at the lower edge of the left lower corner, smudges in the left upper corner, a tiny spot in the image adjacent to the sail of the middle boat and small ink spots in the upper margin, presumably occurring at the time the engraving was printed in the 1780's. The print is otherwise in very good condition.
Alexander Hogg was an 18th and early 19th century publisher of illustrated books of architectural and historical prints, as well as maps. His publishing house was located in London at the Kings Arms on Paternoster Row.
