Tahiti: 'Canoes at Tahiti'. Drawing by Tupaia (c. 1725 - 20 December 1770), c. 1769. Tupaia, a native of Raieatea, fled to Tahiti to escape attacking forces from Bora Bora island. A man of clear intelligence, he acted as intermediary, translator and explicator of Polynesian society for visiting European vessels. On Cook's arrival in 1769, Tupaia went on board Cook's voyage to New Zealand, Australia, and Java, where Tupaia eventually died after falling ill.

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Size: 4977px × 3510px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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