Torniamo all'isola (atollo) di Aitutaki, una delle isole Cook.
Leggenda la rivista "Pacifica", ho scoperto che i primi a scendere su quell'isola fuorno gli uomini del Bounty, il famoso vascello. Ecco le info e che cosa scrive il suo capitano, qualche giorno prima di essere allontananato dalla sua nave per mano dei famosi "ammutinati" del Bounty, capitanati da Christian Fletcher:
"Captain Bligh (1754 - 1817) was the First European to visit the island, arriving there in the "Bounty" on 11 April 1789. Three stamps on this theme were issued on 11 April 1974. Values 1c, 5c, & 8c Designs were by G. Vasarhelyi, and the stamps are in sheets of 32. Each stamp appears in two widely differing designs.
A facsimile of Bligh’s account of his first visit to Aitutaki is in the library of Aitutaki, and the following extract may be of interest.
"As we sailed very near the track made in former voyages, I had little reason to expect that we should at this time make any new discovery; nevertheless on the 11th, at daylight, land was seen to the S.S.W. at about five leagues distance which appeared to be an island of moderate height. On the N.W. part was a round hill: the S.E, part sloped off to a low point.
At two in the afternoon we were within three miles of the island, and could see a number of people within the reefs. Shortly after, a canoe, in which were four men paddled out to us and came alongside without showing any signs of apprehension or surprise. I gave them a few beads, and they came into the ship.
Being told that I was the chief of the ship, the principal person came and joined noses with me and presented to me a large mother of pearl shell which he fastened round my neck.
The name of the large island, they told me was Wytootackee (Aitutaki) and the chief was called Lommakkayah."
Bligh stayed there until 17th April before setting sail.
Ten days later he was seized by Fletcher Christian and other mutineers and placed in the ships launch and set adrift. "
ciao fabiov

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