This coral island with its friendly inhabitants, white beaches, beautiful weather and exquisite women proved enormously attractive to European adventurers. It was only with the greatest difficulty that ships’ captains persuaded the crew to depart with the ships. A few years before Cook’s arrival, a crew dismantled almost half a ship, exchanged the nails, hinges and and chains with Tahitian girls for sexual favours.

Everyone on Tahiti was tattooed, but the designs varied widely. Characteristic of the women were the decorations around the heel and foot resembling socks. Facial tattoos were extremely rare.

Traditional weapons were also popular tattoo designs. Clubs and spears were combined with swords, muskets, cannon and pistols. The Tahitians also managed to realistically depict European measuring instruments and compasses. The palm tree had become a much-loved tattoo.