the third capital at Mua (from 1220–1851) with more than 20 royal grave mounds. Europeans Tongatapu was first sighted by Europeans on 20 January 1643 by Abel Tasman commanding two ships, the Heemskerck and the Zeehaen commissioned by the Dutch East India Company of Batavia (Jakarta). The expedition's goals were to chart the unknown southern and eastern seas and to find a possible passage through the South Pacific and Indian Ocean providing a faster route to Chile. The expedition set sail from Batavia on 14 August 1642. Tasman named the island "t’ Eijlandt Amsterdam" (Amsterdam Island), because of its abundance of supplies. This name is no longer used except by historians. Commander James Cook, sailing the British vessel Resolution visited the island on October 2, 1773 by some accounts and by other accounts October 1774, returning again in 1777 , with Omai, whereupon they left some cattle for breeding. These were still flourishing in 1789 when Bounty, under Fletcher Christian visited. The earliest mention of the name Tongatapu (spelled "Tongataboo" in the text) was by James Cook in 1777, as he wrote his memoirs for the Three Voyages Around the World, Volume 1. British and American whalers were regular visitors to the island for provisions, water and wood. The first on record was the Hope, in April–May 1807. The last known to have called was the Albatross in November–December 1899. Main sights Nukualofa – Capital of Tonga Mua – Second largest town in Tongatapu. Site of the ancient burial mounds and the Papae 'o Tele'a Tombs. Langi – Tombs of Tongan kings Hule fortress – Located in Nukunuku - Kolotau Ko Hule - Western District of Tongatapu Mapu a Vaea – Blowholes in the coral reef on the south-western side Hūfangalupe – Natural landbridge on the south eastern side of Tongatapu Pangaimotu – Small resort island close to Nukualofa Landing site of Captain Cook Flying Fox Preserve – Located in Kolovai in the western side Taungapeka Haamonga a Maui – Trilithon Nukuleka – possibly the site of first Lapita settlement in Tonga Tupou College – first educational establishment in the kingdom located in the eastern district of Tongatapu near Malapo See also List of islands and towns in Tonga References External links Tonga Quick Facts Photographs from Tongatapu, Tonga The European discovery of the Tonga Islands by Brian Hooker Islands of Tonga Divisions of Tonga