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Historians disagree on whether Cook was cannibalised or not.

There are reports that, upon Cook's death, he was cannibalised, but cannibalism was not actively practised in Hawaii at this time.

It seems his body was prepared in an unusual ritual, which may have seemed like cannibalism to those of his crew who witnessed it. Because he had originally been regarded as a god by the natives, his heart was divided between tribal chiefs and eaten. his hands were stuffed with salt to preserve them, whilst many of his bones were placed around the island, given to other significant tribal chiefs. What was left of his remains were then returned to his crew in dignified fashion, with a cloak of white and black feathers, where they were placed in a small coffin and buried at sea.

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16y ago

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