Strangers in the South Seas

Long before Magellan entered the Pacific in 1521 Westernersentertained ideas of undiscovered oceans, mighty continents, andparadisal islands at the far ends of the earth - such ideas would have along life and a deep impact in both the Pacific and the West. With thediscovery of Tahiti in 1767 another powerful myth was added to thiscollection: the noble savage. For the first time Westerners wereconfronted by a people who seemed happier than themselves. Thisrevolution in the human sciences was accompanied by one in thenatural sciences after Darwin's momentous visit to the GalapagosIslands.