ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN
     On this day in 1778 The English navigator James Cook has discovered a new group of islands in the Pacific Ocean on his 3rd voyage of discovery aboard his ship Resolution. The islands, inhabited by a powerful race of Polynesians, are called Hawaii in the local tongue, but Captain Cook today claimed the territory for the Crown and name them the Sandwich Islands.

      In his attempt to discover a northwest passage from Europe to the Orient from the Pacific side, Captain Cook sailed from the Cap of Good Hope in 1776 to meet the survey vessel Discovery; and then onward to the North American coast via the  Pacific. His plan is to force a passage through Bering Straits into the Arctic Ocean, and return to Europe this way. If no such passage exists, then the Resolution can return the way it came. Cook aims to use the newly-discovered islands as ports of call. However, the islands inhabitants have shown some animosity toward their first European visitors.

THE FAMOUS SIAMESE TWINS

CHANG & ENG, the famous Siamese twins. 

     In 1874 Chang & Eng, the famous Siamese twines, have died within three hours of each-other aged 62. They were joined at the hip, cheats, abdomen, and head, and even shared some organs. Chang & Eng mean ''left'' & ''right'' in Thailand, where they were born. Interestingly They married sisters and fathered 10 and 12 children respectively.