VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 662, 14 March 1952, Page 9

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY

CAPTAIN -COOK IN NEW ZEALAND. | edited and published by A. H. & A. W. Reed, Wellington, 30/-. ~OOK’S voyages are still remote from the general reader. The Journals are copious, but only one-covering the first voyage-has so far been printed. Numerous studies and narratives have appeared, though too often they have been unreliable or have been concerned with | special interests. "The fact . . . becomes apparent," writes C. R. H. Taylor in a bibliographical note for the present book, "there is no one volume or series where one can find a full record of al! aspects of the voyages, authentically and adequately presented." This deficiency may later be removed. In the meantime readers have been given, in a single volume, an. account. of Cook’s adventures and discoveries in New Zealand. The editors explain in their introduetion that. their intention has been to provide a work of reference, "Further, the concentration upon this comparatively small part of the three voyages... would permit the addition of useful explanatory notes and illustrations." The text is mainly from Cook’s own Journals. Wharton’s version, published in 1893, has been used for the first voyage. For the second and third ,voyages, the editors have turhed to a volume issued by Ward Lock, Bowden & Co. This latter text, although mainly in Cook’s own words, has been partly modernised. It is a pity, perhaps, that no ,similar revision was attempted with the first voyage, which takes up more than halt (continued on next page)

Book Reviews (continued from previous page) the book. The original spelling of place names may help to preserve historical flavour and interest, but modern spelling could have been used for ordinary words. And the prodigal use of capital letters, although common in Cook’s time, makes hard reading for modern eyes. Closer editing could also have improved the narrative. Many entries are loaded with navigational details which can mean very little to the plain reader for whom the book is primarily intended. Interest is not aroused by entries like the following:."Sunday 24th.Light sAirs next to a Calm all this 24 Hours. At 7 p.m. saw the land from the Mast head bearing S.4%2 E.; at 11 a.m. saw it again bearing S.S.E. distant 8 Leagues. At Noon Latitude observed 33° 48'S." By far the most interesting passages are those which describe Cook’s experiences with the Maoris. Throughout these pages may be seen with increasing clearness the profile of a great man, : The book is well printed and bound, but the dust jacket is unfortunate.

L.M.

H.