听力文本

The Lapita's first voyages into the unknown must have appeared suicidal.
为了完成向未知世界的处女航，拉皮塔人付出了巨大的牺牲
Although many were lost at sea, some Lapita DID reach new islands,
多亏了非凡的航海技能，即便有人葬身大海
thanks to their extraordinary navigation skills.
他们还是到达了新岛
This man can interpret the direction of land by reading wave and swell patterns.
这个男人通过识别海浪就能说出陆地的方向
Like his ancestors, he carries in his head a complex wind map
像祖先那样，他将复杂的季风图熟记于心
detailing the various seasonal winds that serve as a compass.
不会遗漏任何细节

And at night, he can navigate by the stars.
即使在夜间，他也能依靠星星导航
In craft like these, the Lapita reached the islands of Tonga, 2,000 miles
仅凭这种小船，拉皮塔人抵达了南太平洋的中心
east of New Guinea, in the heart of the South Pacific.
位于新几内亚以东1600海里的汤加群岛
Further east, the odds of a castaway making land drop steeply
如果东部的岛屿更加偏远
as the islands become fewer and even more isolated.
那么漂流者登陆的可能性就会降低。

视频及简介

在南太平洋并没有荒岛这一回事。它们也许是地球上最偏僻，但2万余个岛屿个个都被开拓了，从新几内亚，天堂鸟的家园，部落野蛮的成人仪式将年轻的战士变成鳄鱼人，到斐济，法属玻利尼西和夏威夷。这是最后漂流者的故事，从咸水鳄和巨鳗到冠鬣蜥和怪蛙，为了成功不顾一切到达数千哩远的岛屿。这些旅程是很好的功绩。据估计每6万年才有一个物种到达夏威夷。难以相信，这么多的开拓者到达这些受到大自然像龙卷风和海啸接二连三粗暴打击的岛屿。南太平洋首次人类，玻利尼西亚人的航行，难以忘怀。这些旅程的确是最伟大的探索行动，甚至可以断言，他们永远地改变了南太平洋的大自然。