The first of two such breadfruit engravings published in John Hawkesworth's Voyages (an account of the journeys by Captain Cook, Vice Admiral John Byron, and Joseph Banks published on behalf of the Admirality in 1773). Breadfruit is a starchy fruit that has a potato-like flavour when cooked (similar to bread) and is high in carbohydrates and protein. Breadfruit was seen as a highly productive food and was later transported to the Caribbean as a cheap, high-energy food source for enslaved Africans. Breadfruit is a starchy fruit that has a potato-like flavour when cooked (similar to bread) and is high in carbohydrates and protein.

Initial field drawing of this plant were done by Scottish botanist and natural history artist Sydney Parkinson during Captain James Cook's first Endeavor voyage (1768-71). Captain Cook (1728-1779) made three separate voyages to the Pacific (with the ships Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure, and Discovery) and did more than any other voyager to explore the Pacific and Southern Ocean. Cook not only encountered Pacific cultures for the first time, but also assembled the first large-scale collections of Pacific objects to be brought back to Europe. He was killed in Hawaii in 1779.

Mounted in album PAI3937 with PAI3938 - PAI3957, PAI3959 - PAI4076. Page 19.