pods for primates : a catatogue of surfboards in australia since 1900
home catalogue history references appendix

surfresearch.com.au 
parkinson : tahiti, 1769 
Sydney Parkinson : Tahiti, 1769.

Extracts from
 Parkinson, Sydney:  Journal of a Voyage to South Seas
Edited and published by Stanfield Parkinson, London 1773
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/journals/parkinson/title.html

Introduction.
21 - 26 April 1769

Pages 18 - 19

The tide rises and falls scarce afoot in the harbour; but the surf runs high.
The inhabitants are very expert swimmers, and will remain in the water a long time, even with their hands full.
 

 4 - 7 May 1769
Page 26

This day we also saw them polishing their canoes, which was done with the madrepora fungites, a species of coral, or sea mushroom, with which they also polish the beams of their houses.

11 - 19 June 1769
Pages 30 - 31

Dr. Solander, Mr. Banks, and several others, went to visit Tootahau, to see if they could obtain any hogs; and, after going much farther than where he usually resides, they met with him, and queen Oboreah: they treated them with fair promises, and invited them to stay the night with them, which they accepted; but, in the morning, some missed their stockings, others their jackets and waistcoats, amongst the rest, Mr. Banks lost his white jacket and waistcoat, with silver frogs, in the pockets of which were a pair of pistols, and other things: they enquired for them, but could get no account of them, and they came away greatly dissatisfied, having obtained but one pig.

Catalogue of plants
Pages 37

E marra. Nauclea-orientalis,
Of the timber of this tree they build their large canoes

Page 39

Tawhannoo. Guettarda-speciosa.
The timber of this tree, which grows pretty large at Toopbai, and other low islands near Otaheite, serves to make stools, chests, paste-troughs, and various other utensils; they also build canoes of it.

 E avee. Spondias-dulcis.
This is a large stately tree, and often grows to the height of forty and fifty feet: the fruit, which, I believe, is peculiar to these isles, is of an oval shape, yellow when ripe, and grows in bunches of three or four, and is about the size of a middling apple, with a large stringy core: It is a very wholsome and palatable fruit, improving on the taste, which is nearest that of a mangoe; it is strongly impregnated with turpentine, and makes excellent pies when green. The wood serves for building canoes, and for several other purposes.

Page 40

 E aowiree. Terminalla-glabrata.
This tree, which grows to a large size, is often planted in their Morais, and near their houses, for the sake of its agreeable shade; the wood serves to build canoes, make chests, stools and drums: the kernel of the nut which is in the fruit, though small, has a very pleasant taste. [See pl. X.]

Page 41

 Tamanno. Calophyllum-inophyllum.
This is a most beautiful verdant tree, that grows to a large size, bearing spikes of white flowers: with the juice of the fruit and leaves they dye their garments a pale yellow, which, at the same time, gives them a rich perfume. The wood is greatly valued by them on account of its beauty and duration. They build canoes, make stools, and other utensils of it: it is most likely planted in the Morais, being sacred to their god Tan&ecute;.

 E hootoo. Betonica-splendida.
This beautiful tree grows to a considerable height, and bears a very large and specious white flower, full of long purple stamina, with which they sometimes deck their heads, and sometimes stick them in their ears: the fruit, powdered, they throw into the water to kill fish; and of the wood they build small canoes.

 E pooamattapeepee. Besleria-laurifolia.
The flower of this tree is much admired on account of its sweet scent, for which reason they stick them in their ears and hair, and put them among their garments, and into their monoe. The wood is very tough and lasting, and of it they make drums, and thwarts across their canoes.

Page 44

 Tooneenna. Hernandia-ovigera.
Of the wood of this tree they make a sort of very small canoes, and several other necessary utensils.

 Page 45

E ooroo. Sitodium-altile.
This tree, which yields the bread-fruit so often mentioned by the voyagers to the South-seas, may justly be stiled the Staff-of-life to these islanders; for from it they draw most of their support. This tree grows to between thirty and forty feet high, has large palmated leaves, of a deep grass-green on the upper-side, but paler on the under; and bears male and female flowers, which come out single at the bottom or joint of each leaf.
<...>
Of the wood they build canoes, and make several other sorts of utensils; and, of the bark of young plants of it, which are raised on purpose, they make very good cloth, which is but little inferior to that made of Eaowte, only somewhat more harsh and harder.

Pages 46- 49

 E toee. Zezyphoides-argentea.
The wood of this tree they make use of for various purposes, such as sterns of canoes, heightening boards for ditto, and beams to beat their cloth upon.
 

 Vocabulary
Page 54

Eàrroe,   The swell of the sea, and the surf.

Page 61

Eaow,   To swim.


 Parkinson, Sydney:  Journal of a Voyage to South Seas
Edited and published by Stanfield Parkinson, London 1773
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/journals/parkinson/title.html

Return to Surfer Bio menu
surfresearch.com.au
home catalogue history references appendix

Geoff Cater (2007) : Sydney Parkinson : Tahiti, 1769.
http://www.surfresearch.com.au/1769_Parkinson_Tahiti.html