Home > Categories > Books > Historical > Navigation: Kupe & Cook. An Ocean in a Mind and a Mind on an Ocean review
« No Home for a Weta reviewNo further listings ||
In Navigation: Kupe & Cook, Kingsley Smith traces the beginnings of travel by boat as man migrated out of Africa and arrived in Sahul (Australia and New Guinea) 50,000 years ago.
Smith discusses the role of navigation in Literary societies, up to the voyages of Captain James Cook, and in Orality societies, especially those in Polynesia up to the time when Kupe made his voyage to Aotearoa.
Skills acquired while navigating along major rivers aided the development of oceanic voyaging. Navigation demands communication and memory. Writing allowed the production of the earliest books and maps, materials and instruments in Literary societies. The instruments used by Cook, particularly the accurate chronometer, enabled precise latitude and longitude navigation.
In the absence of a written language, the Orality societies developed intricate methods to reinforce memory. Two different Pacific navigation systems are highlighted, one of which, the Vaeakau-Taumoko, is the oldest in this part of the world. The other is the Tahitian system which uniquely allows latitude and longitude navigation by referencing the Rua and Ana stars and the Pou pillar of navigation.
The book includes extensive references at the end of each section and a useful selection of photographs, maps, and diagrams to complement the text.
Product reviews...
Random listing from 'Books'...
There's a moose, some juice,
big brown bear Bruce,
and a rollicking caboose...
but most of all, there's Miss Lucy-Ruth Goose!
Honk! Honk! Toot! Toot!
You'll get your antlers in a twist and your feathers flying in this rollicking riotous read by the super-talented duo!
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?"
unattributed