Captain Cook’s coconuts

I HAVE read the transcription of Captain Cook’s journal of his first voyage, which makes it quite clear coconuts are not native to Australia.

On one occasion the explorers saw, as they thought, coconut trees, but they turned out to be “a small kind of cabbage palm”.

On Lizard Island, Eagle Island and about the Endeavour River “we found Bamboos, Cocoa Nutts … which were not the produce of the country.”

Cook thought they probably washed ashore from elsewhere.

In fact, he was surprised NOT to find coconuts in Australia: “When one considers the proximity of this country with New Guinea, New Britain, and several other Islands which produce Cocoa Nutts … it seems strange that they should not long ago be transplanted here.”

There are many references in the text to gathering “cocos” but, from the context, it is clear Cook means taro, or yams.

Perhaps this is what has led Mr Dyason astray. Doug Pollard, Clifton Beach PRIVACY POLICY: Our privacy policy www.apnarm.com.au/privacy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.