Guide to the Papers of Alexander Home

Folio manuscript, 32 pages, no covers, written by Alexander Home (File 1)

'The Account of Ottihiti and Our Transaction there, Continued' [pp 19-27, 30-41]. (Item) - Volume 1

Manuscript account of the visit of HMS Resolution, commanded by Capt. James Cook, and HMS Discovery, commanded by Capt. Charles Clerke, to Tahiti, Sept. - Dec. 1777. It refers to a review of Tahitian war canoes, including Omai in English military uniform, relations with the chiefs Tu and Mahine, punitive measures taken by Cook at Moorea, the house erected for Omai at Huahine, the character of Omai and his predicament, visit to Bora Bora, desertions, imprisonment of Podua and her husband, Cook's exhortations against desertions, and trade with Tahitians.

'A description of the Vale of Tiarabuwh some Remarks on its inhabitants' [pp 42-54]. (Item) - Volume 1

An account of the topography and landscape of Taiarapu, the eastern part of Tahiti, and the social organisation, houses, weapons, customs and beliefs of the peoples.

'Lattd and Long. of places Touched at and Discovered by the Resolution & Discovery wh the Dates. Var: hight of the tides there Set of the nidle Thermometer' [pp 28-29]. (Item) - Volume 1

Extracts from 11 entries of log, not in date order and ranging from 26 December 1776 to 30 January 1778, referring to landings at the Sandwich Islands, Christmas Island, Marion Island, Kerguelen, Van Diemen's Land, Bora Bora and Tahiti.

Octavo manuscript, 66 pages, vellum cover, inscribed 'LOG BOOK of Captain Alex: Home R.N. of Buskenburn, Berwickshire while with Captain Cook on his last voyage 1776' (File 2)

Notwithstanding the title, the manuscript by Alexander Home is not a log but comprises two accounts.

Proceedings of HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery at Owyhee in the Sandwich Islands, 7 February - 15 March 1779, including a description of the death of Captain Cook (15pp). (Item) - Volume 1

Home wrote 'I was not present in this Fray being Sick So this Account is entirely from the Mouths of others Who were present'.

'An account of Kamschatska', April 1779 (48pp). (Item) - Volume 1

Following the death of Captain Cook, the two ships, under the command of Charles Clerke, sailed north-west to Kamchatka, the peninsular that extends southward from Siberia, from where they made a second attempt to discover the North West Passage. The manuscript describes the arrival at Kamchatka, topography and landscape, flora and fauna, relations between Kamchatkans and Russians, social customs, government, trade, houses, crops, meetings between the English and the Russians at Petropavlovsk.