Omai

Mai (c.1751-1780), mistakenly known as Omai in Britain, was a young Ra'iatean man who became the second Pacific Islander to visit Europe, after Ahu-toru who was brought to Paris by Bougainville in 1768.

For other uses, see Omai (disambiguation).
Omai of the Friendly Isles by Sir Joshua Reynolds, c.1774
William Parry's painting Sir Joseph Banks with Omai and Dr. Daniel Solander, circa 1775-76
Sir Joshua Reynolds, Portrait of Omai, a South Sea Islander who travelled to England with the second expedition of captain Cook, 1776

Life

Ma'i described himself as a hoa, or 'attendant upon the king', the son of a Ra'iatea landowner. His father was killed by Puni's Borabora warriors. Fleeing to Tahiti, Ma'i was wounded in the encounter with the Dolphin in 1767. Ma'i then became an apprentice to a priest. Returning to Ra'iatea, he was captured and taken to Borabora. Narrowly escaping death there, he escaped to Huahine.[1]

Omai met Samuel Wallis in 1767 and Captain James Cook in 1769 in Tahiti.[2] In August 1773 he embarked from Huahine on the British ship HMS Adventure, commanded by Tobias Furneaux, which had previously touched at Tahiti as part of Cook's second voyage of discovery in the Pacific. Omai travelled to Europe on Adventure, arriving at London in October 1774 where he was introduced into British society by the naturalist Sir Joseph Banks (whom he had also met during Cook's first voyage).[3]

During his two-year stay in England, Omai became much admired within London high society. Renowned for his charm, quick wit and exotic good looks, he quickly became a favourite of the aristocratic elite.[4] Banks regularly invited Omai to dine with the Royal Society and arranged meetings with notable celebrities, including Lord Sandwich, Dr Samuel Johnson, Frances Burney, and Anna Seward, among others.[4] Richard Holmes remarks that Omai's idiosyncratic behaviour and distinctive bow were widely celebrated.[4] Indeed, during one famed meeting with King George III at Kew, Omai is said to have delivered his bow then grasped the King's hand, declaring, "How do, King Tosh!"[5]

He was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, among others; Portrait of Omai sold in 2001 for "the second highest price ever paid for a British picture", according to the Antiques Trade Gazette.[6] Omai's journey to England and subsequent return to Tahiti with Cook's third voyage in 1776 became the subject of a theatrical production, written and directed by the dramatist John O'Keefe, entitled Omai – A Voyage ‘round the World that was performed during the 1785 Christmas season at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden.

Omai returned to Huahine in August 1777 and was settled with a European-style house, furniture, vineyard and two Maori boys as his servants. During the Bounty's visit to Tahiti in 1789, Captain Bligh was told Omai had died about two and a half years after Cook's departure in November 1777.[7]

References
  1. Salmond, Anne (2010). Aphrodite's Island. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 283-284, 389-402. ISBN 9780520261143.
  2. Quanchi, Max (2005). Historical Dictionary of the Discovery and Exploration of the Pacific Islands. The Scarecrow Press. p. 200. ISBN 0810853957.
  3. Salmond, Anne (2003), The Trial of the Cannibal Dog, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, p. 3, ISBN 978-0-300-10092-1
  4. Holmes, R. (2009) The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science (London: Harper Press) p. 50
  5. O'Brian, P. (1987) Joseph Banks (Harvill Press) p. 181
  6. "The strange case of the dealer who went over the top". www.antiquestradegazette.com. 13 Dec 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. "Temporary Export Bar For 'Outstanding' Reynolds' Portrait Of Omai" (Press release). United Kingdom Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 17 December 2002. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.

Further reading
  • Connaughton, Richard (2000), Omai: The Prince Who Never Was, London: Timewell Press, ISBN 1-85725-205-5
  • Omai, Captain Cook Birthplace Museum website
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