S1-E30: Tonga: Melody of `Eua

Podcast 23 July 2025

In episode 30 of Voyage 2 Go History, the crew of the HMS Resolution says farewell to Raiatea and begins a new chapter of exploration. After resolving a tense conflict over stolen goods, the sailors make amends and return confiscated items in exchange for the missing nails and glass beads. With peace restored, they continue to trade in nearby bays, encountering the largest communal house they’ve seen so far—likely a shelter for travelers, akin to a caravanserai.

The farewell from Chief Orea and his family is heartfelt, as they deliver cloth, food, and parting gifts to the young man Hedidi, now joining the expedition. As the ship departs, islanders express genuine sadness, a stark contrast to the emotional restraint Georg and his companions had been taught.

Farewell at sea: As the HMS Resolution leaves Raiatea, Chief Orea’s family boards the ship with gifts, while islanders weep on the shore—marking an emotional goodbye and the start of new discoveries in the Tonga Islands. – Click on the image to listen to this episode on YouTube.

Sailing westward, the Resolution passes Borabora and Maurua. Hedidi—whose true name is Maheine—reveals his noble lineage and deep cultural traditions. His seasickness doesn’t stop him from making ritual offerings to Eatua, hinting at a spiritual life among Polynesians that the Europeans had only begun to grasp.

Soon, the ship discovers Hervey Island, an uninhabited atoll named by Cook, before reaching the fertile, populated shores of `Eua and Tonga-Tabu. Here, the crew is welcomed by a warm, musical people whose generosity and friendliness surpass all expectations. They are invited into houses built with skill and grace, taste fragrant pomelos, and wander through reed-fenced gardens blooming with morning glories.

Musical performances, communal meals, and generous trade leave a lasting impression on the visitors. Georg reflects on the artistic depictions of the islanders by William Hodges and criticizes the European idealization of their features. In contrast, the real people of `Eua are dignified, practical, and distinctly themselves—marked by complex tattoos, lively speech, and a balance of beauty and industriousness.

As the Resolution weighs anchor, Georg notes that although this land may not be as rich as Tahiti, its people live with greater equality and contentment. This episode is a journey through farewells, first impressions, and deeper understandings—of others and of themselves.