Wild Life Among The Pacific Islanders Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Wild Life Among the Pacific Islanders Tm; following narrative is compiled from rough notes of a Journal written during my wanderings in the Islands of the South Pacific. My object in publishing the work is to depict, with the simplicity of truth, scenes and events that exemplify the leading features of life among that peculiar race whose lot is cast on these coral-bound shores. A European who dwells among savage tribes is often com pelled, by the circumstances in which he is placed, to as sume a greatness, if he has it not; and the narrative of my personal adventures may seem, on this account, somewhat egotistical. If so, I must beg the reader to excuse a fault which any one writing the experiences of a life similar to mine in these islands must find, to some extent at least. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. Departure for California--A Kanaka's Interpretation of a Meteor-- "Wreck of the Ship--Appearance of Natives--Their Attack repelled--Mahauta sent ashore--Onset of Savages--Our Landing on the Island--Costume--Native Huts--An Imp surprised-- Insubordination--My Home on the Island--Breaking Cocoa Nuts--Attempt at Conversation--A Native Supper--Night Wail--March resumed--A Mara, or Sacred Ground--Curious Ceremonies--Terror of the Captain--Dance of Females--Mournful Dirges--Ceremony of Adoption--Sararak--Divisions of the Island--A Native Plenipotentiary--Blunders made in acquiring the Language--Novel Appropriation of English Costume--Assembly of our Officers and Crew--A Family Group--Alarm of Invasion--Recovery of my Sword--Ceremony of the Pehu-- Numerous Relations--Etiquette for Relations--My Gratifying Progress in the Language. THE same evening we bade adieu to our good host, and with a pleasant breeze turned our head once more towards California. Dr. R., who had recently become exceedingly amiable, being satisfied with the success of our voyage, confidentially opened to me schemes for rapidly amassing great fortunes, clearly demonstrating the certainty of success. I had told him decidedly at the Marquesas that the present was the last transaction we should ever be engaged in together, and had he now opened me a path to the wealth of Croesus, I would not have joined him in it. Walking the deck one evening, I was struck by the appearance of a remarkably large and brilliant meteor, occasionally observed on these seas, which, bursting suddenly 104 CHANGING OF THE WATCH. to view in the firmament, descends slowly till lost in the ocean, illuminating the waters during its progress with a light like that of the moon. The sound of...

Comprehensive, profusely illustrated book documents early-20th-century sailing: boat types around the world, racing boats, odd and experimental vessels, more. Over 380 illustrations and photographs. Indexes. Bibliography.

Long before Magellan entered the Pacific in 1521 Westerners entertained ideas of undiscovered oceans, mighty continents, and paradisal islands at the far ends of the earth-such ideas would have a long life and a deep impact in both the Pacific and the West. With the discovery of Tahiti in 1767 another powerful myth was added to this collection: the noble savage. For the first time Westerners were confronted by a people who seemed happier than themselves. This revolution in the human sciences was accompanied by one in the natural sciences after Darwin's momentous visit to the Galapagos Islands. The Pacific produced other challenges for nineteenth-century researchers on race and culture, and for those intent on exporting their religions to this immense quarter of the globe. As the century wore on, the region presented opportunities and dilemmas for the imperial powers, a process was accelerated by the Pacific War between 1941 and 1945. Strangers in the South Seas recounts and illustrates this story using a wealth of primary texts. It includes generous excerpts from the work of explorers, soldiers, naturalists, anthropologists, artists, and writers--some famous, some obscure. It shows how "the Great South Sea" has been an irreplaceable "distant mirror" of the West and its intellectual obsessions since the Renaissance.

Excerpt from Wild Life on the Rockies Appeared in T/ée World's Work for August, 1908; and The Beaver and his Works is reprinted from T fie for Decem. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.