Tu'i Malila the Time Telescoping Tortoise

[anteros_lmc]

You know how sometimes you see an image that seems to make time collapse like a telescope? Have a look at this...


This picture was taken in 1953 and it shows Queen Elizabeth II being introduced to the tortoise Tu'i Malila during a royal visit to Tonga. Tu'i Malila is not just any old tortoise, he was believed to have been presented to the King of Tonga by none other than Captain James Cook in 1777. The venerable beastie finally died in 1965 at the ripe old age of 188, making him the second oldest tortoise on record. Isn't that splendid?

You can read more about Tu'i Malila and Captain Cook's equally impressive circumnavigating goat on Adrian Teal's fabulous blog here

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Wow. I wonder if the queen wanted to pat it? I would have. I am sure the tortoise had a very good life there. He is very splendid.

The queen looks so young in that picture. Also she seems to holding a tambourine.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I can't help thinking that the queen looks rather wary of Tu'i Malila. Perhaps she's worried he might eat her tambourine?

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is, 188 years does not sound that much. Anything that's got a "100" in it is the kind of history that we can still touch (my grandparents were born 100 years ago). But once you realise that the tortoise was born around the same time as Jane Austen, there's suddently a sense of scale there, and it is mindboggling. (A bit like the American Civil War widow who died in the 2000s.)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Wow I hadn't heard about the Civil War widow! Your absolutely right, 188 years doesn't seem that long ago, but Captain Cook and Jane Austen seem to belong to another world altogether!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

He's adorable. There's something about tortoises, isn't there? *hearts him*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Toirtoises are splendid creatures, and Tu'i Malila even more so than most!

[katriona-s.livejournal.com]

Wow! I like the image of the elegant young Queen and a tortoise in the very tropical surroundings. He (or she?) looks lovely on the grass. Thanks for posting this :)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's a fabulous picture isn't it?! I came across it on Adrian Teal's twitter stream, so all credit to Mr Teal for introducing Tu'i Malila in the first place!

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

He is clearly not very impressed by Her Majesty. Ah well, another queen, you shut an eye for a few years and there's one again... *g*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Ha! I'm with Tu'i Malila on that one. I am not particularly impressed by Royalty either!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

excellent stuff - 1777 is the year maidenhead bridge was built i realise
and Ned was a mere 20 years and many of our lads were not born
Alex was 9 and George C 5
and John T and Thomas were 3
And Jerry and John Mck were just 2 !


while not a royal fan either i do feel the present queen is now rather in Tu'i MAlila class herself now - she has seen what 16 prime ministers come and go and umpteen presidents and popes and archbishops et al - she must feel she ash seen it all these days !

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Ned was a mere 20 years
Awww bless!

i do feel the present queen is now rather in Tu'i MAlila class herself now
Heh, yes good point. I wonder if Tu'i Malila made much of an impression on her at the time and if she remembers him now?

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

Indy often sulks he spent his days freezing in north London having an impudent pup sticking his snout in Indy's salad when he could have been basking at the court of the king of Tonga.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yes, sadly Indy drew the short there!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

That's an impressive age for him to have reached.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Indeed! And if you read Adrian Teal's post you'll see he had an eventful and rather traumatic life!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Gosh. So he did!