We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Second Edition)

David Lewis

University of Hawaii Press, May 1, 1994 - History - 464 pages

This new edition includes a discussion of theories about traditional methods of navigation developed during recent decades, the story of the renaissance of star navigation throughout the Pacific, and material about navigation systems in Indonesia, Siberia, and the Indian Ocean.

Contents

• Rediscovery of a Vanishing Art: 3
• Piecing the Mosaic: 19
• PART TWO Directing the Craft: 51
• Voyaging Canoes: 53
• Steering by the Stars: 82
• Keeping Course by Sun Swells and Wind: 123
• PART THREE Orientation on the Empty Ocean: 137
• Dead Reckoning: 139
• Orientation Concepts in Dead Reckoning: 167
• PART FOUR Expanding Ones Target and Position Fixing: 193
• Island Blocks Birds and Clouds: 195
• Swell Patterns and Phosphorescence: 224
• Expanded Target Landfall in Practice: 262
• Position Fixing at Sea: 277
• Reasons for Voyaging: 297
• The Renaissance of Far Voyaging: 312
• The Long Seaways of Eastern Polynesia: 342
• Variations of Star Bearings with Latitude: 357
• Directional Marks Ashore: 363
• Table of Tahitian Star Pillars and Islands: 372
• Glossary: 403
• Locations of the Main Islands and Other Places: 411
• References: 419
• Index: 433

Bibliographic information

• Title: We, the Navigators: The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific (Second Edition)
• Author: David Lewis
• Editor: Derek Oulton
• Edition: 2, illustrated
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press, 1994
• ISBN: 0824815823, 9780824815820
• Length: 464 pages
• Subjects: History / Oceania; Transportation / Navigation