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For those that like such stuff, there's a book just coming out, "Tupaia:
Captain Cook's Navigator", by Joan Druett (info at
http://www.joan.druett.gen.nz/ ).

Joan Druett is a New Zealand novelist, and from the blurb on her webpage
appears to be uncritically acceptive of the claims to supernatural
navigational powers of the Tahitian priest Tupaia, who on Cook's first
circumnavigation was taken on board Endeavour for the return passage to
England. Unfortunately, he died in the then fever-hole of Batavia, on the
journey back. But not before making himself useful as a translator with the
New Zealand Maoris, thus proving their Polynesian origins.

It may be unfair to dismiss the book before having read it, but the website
offers some clues about the contents. She makes much of the claim that
after leaving Tahiti, Tupaia was reportedly able to point in the direction
of his home, wherever he happened to be. The only source for that story,
that I know of, is in the writings of the naturalist Forster, who had never
met Tupaia, having sailed on Cook's second voyage. I have not come across
that tale in Cook's own journal, or those of any other member of the first
voyage (which doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, but I doubt if it does).
But Forster's story gets constantly retold, and elaborated-on.

Another matter that gets emphasized is the map of the Pacific Islands,
centred on Tahiti, which was put together by Cook and Banks based on the
information provided by Tupaia. It showed a close sprinkling of islands
around Tahiti, particularly to the South, which is in fact remarkably clear
of islands. This led Cook to make a rather fruitless search in that
direction. That map still exists, at the British Museum, having been passed
down with Banks' papers. Comparison with a modern map of the South Pacific
shows a remarkable lack of correspondence, except for those islands within
a day or two of Tahiti.

Tupaia might well have been useful to Cook as translator, but accounts of
his mystical prowess as a navigator strain our credulity.

George.

contact George Huxtable, at  george@hux.me.uk
or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222)
or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.

   

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