Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands at the time of Captain Cook’s Visit

This engraved portrait is based on a drawing by John Webber, artist on Captain Cook’s third voyage, of King Poulaho, or Fatafehi Paulaho. Poulaho was the Tu’i Tonga or Tongan King, and met Cook on 27 May 1777. Cook describes that upon his departure from Ha’apai the following day, Paulaho boarded the ship “and brought me one of their Caps made or at least covered with red feathers: these Caps were much sought after by us from knowing they would be highly valued at Otaheite…. [T]hey are made so as to tie upon the forehead without any Crown, and have the form of a Semi-circle whose radis is 18 or 21 Inches; but a painting which Mr. Webber has made of Fattafee Polaho dressed in one of these bonnets will convey the best idea of them.” (Joppien and Smith, The Art of Cooks Voyages)

This engraving is a later version and reverse image after that published in the official publication. In the original engraving King Paulaho’s face is turned towards his right, not left as here. The source of this engraving has not been identified, but provides evidence of the interest in and proliferation of publications and engravings relating to voyages to the Pacific in the late 18th century.