G. Alexander Cooke, Mourning the Chief: The Morai at Otaheite, Now Called Tahiti, 1817, Engraving

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An original historical engraving from G. Alexander Cooke's "Geography," published in 1817. The engraving is titled "View of a Tuppapon … Read more An original historical engraving from G. Alexander Cooke's "Geography," published in 1817. The engraving is titled "View of a Tuppapon or Shed under which the Bodies of the Chiefs of Otaheite are embalmed and preserved after death." It depicts a traditional practice in Otaheite (Tahiti) where the bodies of chiefs were embalmed and preserved post-mortem. The scene shows a thatched structure or shed, known as a Tuppapon, where the process takes place. There is a person attending to a body inside the shed, and another figure standing outside, suggesting a respectful vigil or guard. The backdrop includes lush tropical vegetation, indicative of the island's environment. Engravings like this were common in travel literature of the 18th and 19th centuries, serving to document and share the customs and practices of different cultures around the world with a European audience. They played a crucial role in the dissemination of geographical and anthropological knowledge during this era. See less