Understanding the language
On James Cook’s first Pacific expedition, he visited Tahiti before circumnavigating New Zealand and discovering the east coast of Australia. He left Tahiti with a local priest called Tupaia1, who was also an experienced Polynesian navigator. Upon arrival in New Zealand, Cook used Tupaia as a translator between himself and the Maori people.
Links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/cook_tupaia_maori_01.shtml