Ulimaroa
Ulimaroa was a name given to Australia by the Swedish geographer and cartographer in 1776.[1] Djurberg adapted the name from Olhemaroa, a Māori word (this is disputed, as the Māori language does not use the letter ‘l’) found in Hawkesworth's edition of Captain James Cook and Sir Joseph Banks' journals which is thought to have been a misunderstood translation — the Māori were actually referring to Grand Terre, the largest island of New Caledonia.[1] Djurberg believed the name meant something like "big red land", whereas modern linguists believe it meant "long hand" — echoing the geography of Grand Terre.[1] The spurious name continued to be reproduced on certain European maps, particularly some Austrian, Czech, German and Swedish maps, until around 1820.,[1] including in Carl Almqvist's 1817 novel Parjumouf Saga ifrån Nya Holland (Stockholm, 1817).
However, in Oceanic Migration: Paths, Sequence, Timing and Range of Prehistoric Migration in the Pacific and Indian Oceans (2010), Charles E.M. Pearce and F. M. Pearce claimed that Ulimaroa may well have been Australia: maroa means "large" and "parched", and can also mean "dark skinned", while uli means "tribe," making it an appropriate description, and that Maori from New Zealand were unlikely to view Grand Terre as a large island.[2]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d "Ulimaroa: a misnomer for Australia". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ Pearce, Charles E. M.; Pearce, F. M. (17 June 2010). Oceanic Migration: Paths, Sequence, Timing and Range of Prehistoric Migration in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. ISBN 9789048138265.
 | This Australia-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
 | This onomastics-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- Country name etymology
- European exploration of Australia
- Māori words and phrases
- Australia stubs
- Linguistics stubs