Explorers, Whalers and Tattooed Sailors

by Gordon Ell, Sarah Ell

This collection of first-hand accounts, drawn from early writings and out-of-print books, lets the first Europeans to visit this country tell their own stories of exploration, risk and adventure. Abel Tasman and Joseph Banks write of their first encounters with the people of this new land, followed by missionaries, traders, whalers and sealers, regency bucks, gentlemen scientists and entrepreneurs keen to explore its possibilities. Told in their own words, these stories bring to life a young country yet to come under British rule. This collection, first published in 1992 by The Bush Press, brings back into print many hard-to-find and otherwise unpublished stories, packaged in an attractive gift edition with a modern look.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Janita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly broad range of early first hand accounts of European settlement of the North Island mainly. For the beginning of my research for our first trip to New Zealand, it’s a good starting point. Need to find something similar with accounts from the South Island.

[Steve Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A selection of (very) early narratives of literate visitors to and residents of New Zealand. A
useful resource for those interested in the history of colonisation.