As Cook was making his plans for departure from Tahiti he was beseiged by Tahitians who wanted to sail with him and at length he agreed to “take a chief and a priest” named Tupia who would be useful as an interpreter and as a guide on the other islands. Tupia was allowed to bring with him a servant, a boy named Tayeto

Tupia was, he says, ” a man of real genius, a priest of the first order and an excellent artist; he was, however, by no means beloved by the Endeavours crew, being looked upon as proud and austere, extorting homage, which the sailors, who thought themselves degraded by bending to an Indian, where very unwilling to pay; and preferring complaints against them on the most trivial occassion. On the contrary his boy, Tayeto, was the darling of the ships company from the highest to the lowest, being of a mild and docile disposition, ready to do any kind of office for the meanest in the ship, and never complaining but always pleased.”

Hi Kev, Just a minor correction: the spelling is “Muslim� for a believing servant who follows the religion of Islam. Also, please note that the majority of terrorist attacks are performed by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Tamil Tigers are certainly not Muslim yet are generally Hindu. In relation to the wearing of the headscarf, people can perceive it as they like. When I leave the house wearing my ‘hijab’ (and yes I choose to wear it!), I am letting everyone know that “hey I am a Muslim�. Nothing more, nothing less. People can draw their own opinions on me, discuss how they feel sorry for me, discuss how “hot� I must get in summer, etc. The bottom line is Kev, it is a requirement in our religion, and despite all secondary reasons about modesty, we believe as Muslims, that God has requested this for all pious women. Don’t forget that Orthodox Jewish women cover their hair (often donning wigs instead), and also Christian nuns wear head coverings. Mary mother of Jesus also covered her hair (just look at any painting or statue!). I recently travelled to Europe and viewed first hand many old paintings by which women wear covering their hair. And sure, as you said, people often change and “assimilate� after generations. In Australia, with the rush of Muslim migrants, you can already note that many Muslims are losing their religion (hence many women are no longer are wearing the hijab that identifies them as Muslims). But they are still Muslim. We all want to live together in peace. It is just a small group of so-called Muslims that make it hard for the rest of us. And Kev, I do despise the actions of some of my extremist brethren. They are disgusting. They should never associate their actions with Islam or being a so-called Muslim. VN

VN Thanks for commenting. Muslem was a typo as I spelt it correctly eight times in the body of the post. Still, it’s bad editing and I apologize. You’re right about not all terrorism being instigated by muslims. The Tamil Tigers are still active but an unfortunate fact of life is that as they don’t attack us they slip below the radar. I do have a friend who is the last of her line courtesy the Tamils. Her parents and brother were slaughtered on the alter of extremism. On your wearing the hijab. It is your choice and I have no problem with that but while it becomes a public debate then some thought and comment from people outside the religion is reasonable. I’m not sure that the muslim woman who decide not to wear the hijab are neccessarily losing their religion. I’m of the opinion that religion needs to move with the times to reflect changing society and maybe they are simply adjusting their dress standards for this reason. It is common for people coming into a new society to change to the dominant norms. When in Rome…. You quote Nuns and Mary, mother of Jesus, as doing similar but the Nuns, in Australia at least, no longer wear habit, let alone a veil and I suggest if Mary were alive today her dress may be more in tune with todays society than one that prevailed two thousand years ago. I was closely involved with the arrival of Greek and Italian peoples coming to Australia after WW2 – my parents even sponsored some. Their matriarchs dressed as they had for centuries in the rural areas of Italy and Greece but view thier grand daughters today…little Miss Aussies all of them. You are obviously educated and confident so do as you believe and do so with my blessing (as if that matters) but watch your daughters and their daughters and tell me in years hence that it isn’t so. Having said all that I still believe there are woman who wear the hijab, not for the most noble of reasons, but for the most ignoble – subjugation. I note that you despise the actions of some of your extremist brethren and can only suggest you do more of what you have done here. Say it often in a public arena and tell your friends to do like wise. It is calming on a troubled day. God bless