The New Zealanders

item details

NameThe New Zealanders

ProductionGeorge Lillie Craik; author; 1830; London
Charles Knight; publisher; 1830; London
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge; publisher; 1830; London
William Clowes and Sons, Limited; printer; 1830; London

Classificationrare books

Materialsprinting paper, ink, leather

Materials Summaryleather bound book

Techniquesprinting

DimensionsOverall: 103mm (width), 159mm (length), 23mm (depth)

Registration NumberRB001189

Overview

The New Zealanders includes a riveting account of the voyage to England of Te Pēhi Kupe in 1825–26. It is illustrated by engravings after his sketch of his moko kanohi (facial tattoo), as well as a portrait made during his stay in Liverpool, painted by John Sylvester.

Te Pēhi had embarked on his odyssey to obtain muskets, hoping to avenge the slaughter of four of his children. He was astounded by what he saw in England: flourmills and cathedrals, forges and wheat fields. He spent months at the homes of Captain Reynolds, on whose ship he had arrived, and Dr Thomas Traill.

Traill’s account of Te Pēhi formed the basis of the story in The New Zealanders. In 1851, after reading that same book, Herman Melville used Te Pēhi as inspiration for the character Queequeg in Moby Dick.