Books

The Map Drawn by Tuki Tahua in 1793 Mangonui, 1964 by R. R. D. Milligan reviewed by R. S. Oppenheim University of Auckland Those who had the privilege of knowing the late Dr Milligan, remember him as a man of sharp-edged mind, great humanity, and endless critical curiosity. His unpretentiously titled posthumous monograph reveals all these qualities together with his own astringent wit, the quality which, above all, made those who knew him sharply aware that there was more than one way of looking at the matter under discussion. This is what ‘The Map Drawn by Tuki Tahua’ is, another way of looking at an unsolvable puzzle; a door which cannot be unlocked because its maker never gave away the key. Dr Milligan's analysis is a long look through the keyhole, and a fitting of different keys, none of which works, but any of which may suggest something to the next key maker. In 1793 Governor King asked the captain of the ‘Daedalus’ to bring two New Zealanders to Norfolk Island to teach the convicts there how to make rope from flax. It was not a kindly century. The captain sailed into Doubtless Bay (Northland) and invited the two chiefs aboard. While they were engaged with the wonderful and fascinating world below decks he set sail for Norfolk. The two men, Huru and Tuki, came on deck in time to see their land dropping out of sight. At Norfolk the two chiefs were soon able to teach all they knew of rope making. Flax dressing was, for the most part, women's work, and no part of the duties of a young nobleman. King now showed his own humanity. Ashamed of the way in which the two chiefs had been kidnapped, he entertained them as his guests, questioning them about their country and the ways of the Maori people. It was in the course of these discussions that the idea of drawing a map must have occurred to Tuki. A room was set aside. Tuki drew on the floor with chalk and later made a copy on The late Dr R. R. D. Milligan. paper. King and his secretary Chapman, sat round the table with the two chiefs while, in a mixture of Maori and English, they named and explained the places on the map. Slowly the signs and notes grew. Not everything could be explained, and King was aware that he was receiving only a shadow of Tuki's knowledge. If you look at the map and compare it with a modern map of New Zealand, you will find it very different. Mountains and harbours disappear, the shape is strange, names are not where they appear on official maps. Tuki is not drawing a map that a sailor or explorer might use, though it would do for the purpose, he is telling King about the places important to him; his tribe, its enemies and friends, and perhaps something of the beliefs of his people. Wherever he could, King has had Huru and Tuki's explanations written down, but there remain a number of unexplained signs. King has not noted them on the map though there may be some jottings among his papers which would help to explain them. Dr Milligan explains the geographical map and clears up most of the difficulties. Tuki drew the parts of the map which he knew best clearly and boldly. ‘Here are the Three Kings,’ he says, ‘this is Oruru, my home, and Whangaroa, the home of Huru; here is the Hokianga; these are the chiefs whose pa are important in each district.’ To the southward