# Tahiti and New Zealand explained — The Voyage of the Beagle

> Chapter companion for The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin.

## What happens

Darwin describes the voyage from the Galapagos to Tahiti, the landscape and vegetation of the island, the moral state of its inhabitants, and the impact of missionaries. He then recounts his visit to New Zealand, including observations of Maori settlements, missionary establishments, and a funeral.

## Themes in this chapter

### Colonialism and Imperialism

Darwin observes the effects of missionary work and European influence on Tahitian society, including temperance laws and the abolition of traditional practices.

### Savagery vs. Civilization

Darwin contrasts the 'primeval' appearance of Tahitians in the wild with their Christian piety and advancing civilization, reflecting on the moral state of the island.

### Human Impact on Environment

The introduction of guava as a noxious weed and the cultivation of imported fruit trees illustrate human alteration of Tahiti's landscape.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wilson

Missionary of the district who received Darwin upon landing at Point Venus.

### Kotzebue

Author whose account of Tahiti was strongly adverse to the missionary system, contrasted by Darwin.

### Captain Fitz Roy

Commander of the Beagle during the voyage to Tahiti and New Zealand.

## Key lines

> The Tahitians, with their naked, tattooed bodies, their heads ornamented with flowers, and seen in the dark shade of these groves, would have formed a fine picture of man inhabiting some primeval land.

Darwin thought the tattooed, flower-adorned Tahitians in the banana groves looked like a scene of ancient, untouched humanity.

_Reflects Darwin's romanticized view of indigenous people as living in a primeval state._

> Those travellers who think that a Tahitian prays only when the eyes of the missionary are fixed on him, should have slept with us that night on the mountainside.

Darwin argues that the Tahitians' piety is genuine, as they prayed sincerely even when no missionary was present.

_Defends the sincerity of the Tahitians' Christian faith against skeptical travelers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_voyage_of_the_beagle_se/chapters/xviii-tahiti-and-new-zealand
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_voyage_of_the_beagle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_voyage_of_the_beagle_se/chapters