Some modern Hawaiians.

"Literature cited": p. 149-153.Mode of access: Internet

The anthropometry of Pukapuka. Anthropological papers of the AMNH ; v. 38, pt. 3

p. 141-169 ; 24 cm."The anthropometric data on 204 natives of Pukapuka, evenly divided as to sex are herein presented. On the basis of a comparative study of the means, the Pukapukan population appears to be intimately related to the western Polynesians, particularly those of Samoa and Tonga. Two deviations among the Pukapukans from the standards of western Polynesia create, however, a blemish on the purity of this kinship. The Pukapukans have noticeably shorter and slightly wider heads than the Samoans and Tongans. Such a divergence is possible simply as a consequence of isolation and the dominance of family lines in a relatively small population. Another explanation takes into account possible influences from the strongly brachycephalic populations of central Polynesia focusing in the Society Islands. The other significant departure among the Pukapukans from Polynesian characteristics is their significantly reduced stature. In view of the contiguity of Pukapuka to Micronesia which is sharply distinguished from Polynesia by a general decrease in stature it is probable that influences emanating from this region are responsible for the decline in the stature of Pukapuka. A direct contact, however, is quite improbable on genetic grounds. It is therefore suggested, since the Tokelau and Ellice groups are geographically transitional to Micronesia that their natives, with whom the Pukapukans have traditionally been in contact, might have served to transmit this effect. This is offered only tentatively and cannot be demonstrated in the absence of specific data for these archipelagoes"--P. 169

The making of a maritime explorer: the early career of Matthew Flinders

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal for Maritime Research on 09/08/2016, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21533369.2016.1172839This article examines the early career of Matthew Flinders (1774–1814) to determine the ways in which his training as a navigator, hydrographer and cartographer prepared him for undertaking the first circumnavigation of Australia in the Investigator between 1801 and 1803. Two main questions are answered in relation to this theme. First, why was such a young naval officer as Flinders (he was 26) selected to lead such an important voyage of discovery? And, second, in what ways did the choice of Flinders as the commander of the Investigator reflect the training he had received? The article argues that the making of Flinders as a maritime explorer was forged through his successive nautical achievements in the 1790s, partly in relation to William Bligh’s second breadfruit voyage to the Pacific in 1791–1792 and partly in relation to voyages along the coasts of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land that Flinders undertook between 1795 and 1800. During that period, Flinders jointly discovered Bass Strait and circumnavigated Van Diemen’s Land: these were the two most significant geographical discoveries in Australia since the era of Captain Cook. The article shows that when he returned from Port Jackson to London in 1800, Flinders was the most experienced candidate with knowledge of Australian waters who was available to lead the Investigator expedition. It also argues that Flinders placed himself in a highly favourable position to be selected as the leader of the circumnavigation through demonstrating to Sir Joseph Banks, his patron, that he had a thorough, up-to-date knowledge of what needed to be discovered about Australia through maritime exploration. Throughout, there will be an emphasis on the nautical skills Flinders acquired rapidly as a young midshipman and lieutenant and on his determination and initiative to devote his career to Australian discovery.The research was supported by an Australian Bicentennial Fellowship, Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King’s College, London