S1-E50: Vanuatu: The False Arrow

When Captain Cook’s HMS Resolution dropped anchor off the island of Ambrym in July 1774, the crew expected tension—but instead, they found green branches waving in peace. Hundreds of islanders gathered by the reef, chanting “Tomarr!” and exchanging arrows for Tahitian cloth. But not all arrows were alike—some were tipped with bone and coated in a black resin suspected to be poison.

Georg Forster describes the moment with both scientific precision and the troubling lens of Enlightenment-era anthropology. He sees not just difference—but reflects on the moral risk of dehumanizing others through theory and comparison.

A narrow line in the sand separates two worlds—one armed with drawn bows, the other with muskets and caution. For a heartbeat, the jungle holds its breath. – Click on the image to listen to this episode on YouTube.

What began as a peaceful contact escalated into a moment of high tension. A single arrow raised in anger provoked gunfire. Islander and captain stared each other down—until buckshot broke the standoff. Within seconds, islanders leapt from the ship’s windows and rigging, vanishing into the sea.

But the next morning brought an unexpected offering: a young pig, held out in reconciliation.