DOC Tupaia: The Remarkable Story Of Captain Cook's Polynesian Navigator (Large Print 16pt) by Joan Druett in History

Review

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A New Twist to the Cook Story and a Great Read Despite the CostBy A Thoughtful ConsumerBusiness first; my initial criticisms are not aimed at the author or but at the publisher. Tupaia costs $24 for the digital download and $43 for the printed version. It's a thin read with no pictures or maps. There is nothing here that would justify these outrageous prices. $24/$43 is nothing short of literary exploitation. I volunteered for the cost so I get what I deserve. But the author did too good of a job and the information is so unusual that they both deserve the widest possible audience; not throttled back by excessive pricing.I'm done.The parallels between the Lewis and Clark expedition and James Cook's travels are long and interesting. Skilled men who travelled to little known areas. Not only keenly observing; but bringing Western industrial culture and products to people who had little idea there even was a world outside of their island/territory. Both explorers were charged with making the first diplomatic handshake with these unknown cultures and then show the best side of the West. Trade and friendship was the message both missions were to convey.But how that was accomplished was extraordinary in both cases. There was the language barrier and even more awesome was the cultural morass. With such isolation; there was no possible way either Cook or Lewis and Clark could not make terrible social blunders leading to anger and death. But apparently both were diplomatic wizards; with plenty of cultural confrontations but an amazingly low casualty rate for the expedition members. For hundreds of years the story was that these guys had untouchable diplomatic skills and super 'people' skills.In the case of Lewis and Clark; the last 30 years has witnessed some intense research into the Indian woman Sacajawea (as well as the black slave;York). Latest research still says Lewis and Clark were astonishing explorers but Sacajawea was the cultural 'lubricant' that allowed them to make friendly contact with unfamiliar tribes. Her knowledge of basic Indian protocol kept social offenses to a minimum; the expedition was kept alive and moving.So there was more to the story. Lewis and Clark had an ace up their sleeves.Joan Druett has done a terrific job on showing that James Cook also did not operate alone. Druett has raked all of the first voyage's logs and journals for references to Tupaia. She then triangulated these to modern researches on 1700 Polynesia and local island records/traditions related to Tupaia. She stood on the shoulders of previous investigators- Anne Salmond and Paul Tapsell; who both set the groundwork for this amazing biography. You wouldn't think there could be much to research after all this time. After all; for 200+ years Tupaia was basically the 'pet Indian' that Joseph Banks wanted to take home to England. But Druett shows Tupaia to be a significant game changer for the Cook Expedition and his future voyages.Across the Pacific; the Cook Expedition excelled at social blunders and getting involved in potentially deadly confrontations. Tupaia; now the ship's linguist; but also a priest of Oro; an airoi; a highly educated Tahitian noble; and a pleasant guy was constanly defusing situations; interpreting cultural mysteries to Cook; really opening the door between East and West.Because of a series of mega-tsunamis in the 1400s; much of coastal south Polynesia was wiped out and with it; it's cultural memory. Tupaia; having been trained at one of the surviving institution; Taputapuatea on Raiatea;gave religious instruction to a thirsty Polynesian audience. Especially on New Zealand; hundreds of people would gather to listen to him teach and debate; from one island end to the other. His presence to the Maori was such that Capt. Cook was really secondary. The Maori saw Tupaia as the admiral of the expedition. His presence was so significant that when Cook returned to New Zealand on voyage #2; virtually every Maori's first question was 'Where is Tupaia?' and upon learning of his death...great sadness.It wasn't just Polynesia that Tupaia was able to communicate with...Tupaia was able to make contact and spend time with several Australian Aborigine tribes; when Cook couldn't even get a look of acknowledgment.Cook was able to get across the Pacific with only 1 death (plenty more die on the way home; including Tupaia). But Tupaia taught not only the Polynesians but he showed Cook an acceptable social demeanor when working in the Pacific. A demeanor Cook usually followed until his 3rd voyage at Hawaii.Like Lewis and Clark; Cook was an astonishing explorer. But even Cook; himself; in his log; recognized that Tapaia was also an extraordinary man and any expedition to the Pacific would be greatly enhanced with Tuapaia's presence.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Good book; but NO PICS IN KINDLE EDITIONBy Richard HorsleyI had inspected this handsome book in a bookshop; but decided to buy it on Kindle. The chief subject of the book -- Tupaia; Polynesian high priest; politician; diplomat; seaman; master navigator and; under Europeans' influence; painter and crack shot -- is materially preserved only through a few paintings by him and copies of a map he drew while travelling on the Endeavour under Captain Cook. The paintings are lively and informative; and include the only picture of Sir Joseph Banks while he was on the Endeavour's circumnavigation of the world with Cook. The map reveals extensive knowledge of the geography of the South Pacific. Both provide significant insights into Tupaia; and are discussed in detail in the book.Annoying; therefore; to find that ALTHOUGH THE PRINTED BOOK INCLUDES REPRODUCTIONS OF THESE IMPORTANT WORKS; THERE ARE NO ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE KINDLE EDITION. There is no warning to this effect from . I feel Misled And Deceived In Trade Or Commerce. As well as missing Tupaai's paintings; I could have done with some maps to assist in following the story.Having said that; I liked the book. Ms Druett has done well to create a detailed and smooth narrative from the available sources; including a surprising amount of information about Tupaia's life before European contact. She feels -- reasonably; in my view -- that Tupaia was hard done by at the hands of Banks and; more particularly; Cook. Unlike some reviewers; I don't find her focus on Cook's feet of clay overdone; particularly in the context of a book about Tupaia. There is necessarily a degree of surmise and conjecture; but it is clearly identified; and the reader can form her own view as to whether it is supported. I generally thought it was. There is surely no room to doubt Tupaia's central importance to Cook's dealings with the Maori in New Zealand; and their high regard for him. Even with the Australian aborigines (whose languages were unknown to him) he was clearly a significant mediator between the Endeavours and the natives.If you buy the Kindle version of the book; you'll need to find Tupaia's drawings online. There are some on Ms Druett's blog; http://joan-druett.blogspot.com.au/2010_05_01_archive.html; Two copies of his map at http://www.strangehistory.net/2011/03/23/image-tupaias-map/; an interesting interpretation of his map at http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/docs/Volume116/jps_v116_no3_2007/3%20A%20new%20reading%20of%20Tupaias%20chart.pdf; a number of Tupaia's drawings are handily collected in the article "Tupaia's Sketchbook" on the British Library site; at http://www.bl.uk/eblj/2005articles/pdf/article10.pdf. To find images; search not only on "Tupaia"; but on "artist of the chief mourner" (Tupaia has only recently been identified as the artist).0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Surprising exciting to learn of an explorer from Tahiti ...By vincent perrySurprising exciting to learn of an explorer from Tahiti that sailed aboard the Endeavor (Cook's first Pacific voyage). Tupaia was the reason Cook's voyage was as successful as it was. His people shared a history with other Polynesian's. A true diplomat who won their trust by his efforts to communicate and desire to know who they are. Hard to believe I had never heard of this man; very inspiring person.