Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9207
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    ‘The Lad Taiyota, Native of Otaheite, in the Dress of his Country’

    Date
    1773
    Creator
    Richard Bernard Godfrey (1728 - 1799, British) , Engraver
    After
    Sydney Parkinson (1740 - 1771, British) , Draftsman
    Object type
    Library reference
    58306
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 265mm
    width (print): 215mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Full length portrait of Taiata, referred to here as 'Taiyota', in left profile, playing a nose flute, vivo. He is shown in a textile garment.

    Illustration from A journal of a voyage to the South Seas, in His Majesty's ship, The Endeavour, by Sydney Parkinson (London, 1773), which was published posthumously.

    Sydney Parkinson (c.1745-1771) Scottish natural history artist and Joseph Banks's (1743–1820) illustrator on board HMS Endeavour's voyage to the Pacific in 1768, under Lieutenant James Cook (1728-1779).

    Endeavour's mission was to observe the Transit of Venus, which they did from Tahiti on 3rd June 1769, and explore, claim resources and trade in the 'unknown southern land', Terra Australis Incognita.

    Taiata was the young servant of Tupaia (c.1724–1770), referred to by the Europeans as 'Toobaiah'. Born of the elite Raiatea, Ra'iātea, Tupaia was the high priest of Tahiti. Both Taiata and Tupaia were enlisted by the Endeavour's party to act as intermediaries.
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > Tahiti
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