ABSTRACT
David Samwell, or Dafydd Ddu Feddyg, was a surgeon and travel writer. Born in Nantglyn, Wales, the son of a parson, he was trained as a surgeon before moving to London and joining a circle of Welsh antiquarians. It was probably Samwell's interest in culture and language that attracted him to serve as assistant surgeon to William Anderson on board the Resolution. Upon Cook's forced return to Hawaii in February 1779, there seems to have been a shift in the behaviour of the Hawaiians. The islanders taunted the crew and were less co-operative than before. In the month of January, 1779, the Resolution and Discovery lay about a fortnight at anchor in the bay of Keragegooah.
