Omai.

Rare engraving of Omai from the official British Admiralty sanctioned edition of the accounts of Cook’s second voyage.

Omai (more correctly Mae or Mai), was the young Raiatean (Society Islands) taken on the Adventure to England. He was the embodiment of the ‘noble savage’ concept put forward by the influential French philosopher, Rousseau. Omai played an instrumental role as communicator between Cook and the natives of the Pacific Islands during the second and third voyages. Omai’s return was also one of the specific tasks contained in the Admiralty’s instructions for Cook’s third voyage.

From Cook, J., A Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World, performed in His Majesty’s Ships the ‘Resolution’ and ‘Adventure’, In the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. London

References:
Beddie, M. Bibliography of Captain James Cook, RN,FRS, Circumnavigator. Sydney 1970: 1381-44, p.269
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 : 358.
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967 : 16245.
Joppien, R & Smith, B. The art of Captain Cook’s Three Voyages, Vol. II Melbourne 1987: 2.65A, ill. p. 175

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 90039
National Library New Zealand: NLNZ ALMA 997580383502836
State Library New South Wales: RECORD IDENTIFIER 74VvMokVOlGA / 74VvMoxg6JJX
Yale University Library & Art Gallery: G420 C66 1777