In the South Seas: Being an Account of Experiences and Observations in the Marquesas, Paumotus and Gilbert Islands in the Course of Two Cruises on the Yacht "Casco" (1888) and the Schooner "Equator" (1889)"The first experience can never be repeated. The first love, the first sunrise, the first South Seas island, are memories apart, and touched by a virginity of sense." -Robert Louis Stevenson, In the South Seas This jacketed hardcover edition of In the South Seas (1896) by Robert Louis Stevenson offers observations the author made during a voyage to the Marquesas, the Paumotus, and the Gilbert Islands in 1888-89. Originally written as a journal, the book that evolved from these notes went beyond an amusing traveler-centered description of his experiences to provide a more theme-based narrative, adding discussions of the South Seas culture, language, traditions, and society: anthropology, history, and sociology, together with personal impressions and anecdotes. |
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In the South Seas: Being an Account of Experiences and Observations in the ... Robert Louis Stevenson No preview available - 2018 |
In the South Seas: Being an Account of Experiences and Observations in the ... Robert Louis Stevenson No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
Anaho appeared archipelago asked atoll Atuona beach boat breadfruit brother bush Butaritari called cannibal canoe Captain Casco CHAPTER chief church cocoa-nut colour copra coral cried dark dead death European eyes face Fakarava father feast fish French Gilbert Island Gilberts green hand Hatiheu Hawaii Hawaiian missionary heard Hiva-oa hour island isle Karaiti Kauehi Kekela KING OF APEMAMA lady lagoon land least living looked Makin Marquesan missionary Moipu Molokai Mormon morning Nakaeia native never night Oahu once Paaaeua paepae palace palms pandanus Papeete passed Paumotuan Paumotus perhaps Polynesian quesas race returned Samoa scarce schooner seemed seen ship shore side smiling sound South Seas spirit Stanislao stood strange stranger supposed surf Taahauku Tahiti Tahitian Tai-o-hae Takaroa Taniera tapu Tembinok thing thought Timau tion to-day told trade trees verandah village voice wife woman women wood word
Popular passages
Page 36 - monsieur, presque pas de resultats." He pointed to the scholars: " You see, sir, all the youth of Nuka-hiva and Uapu. Between the ages of six and fifteen this is all that remains; and it is but a few years since we had a hundred and twenty from Nuka-hiva alone. Oui, monsieur, cela se
Page 49 - a la cbasse.'' They were all upon the mountains hunting goats! Presently we came to the quarters of the women, likewise deserted — " Ou sont vos bonnes femmes ? "asked the Resident; and the jailer cheerfully responded: "Je crois, Monsieur le Resident, qu'elles sont allees quelquepart faire
Page 78 - join in a continuous and lofty roof; blackbirds are heard lustily singing; the island cock springs his jubilant rattle and airs his golden plumage; cow-bells sound far and near in the grove; and when you sit in the broad verandah, lulled by this symphony, you may say to yourself, if you are able: "Better fifty years
Page 86 - sorry it was Hart's," with needless force of epithet, which I neglect to reproduce. Perhaps, if Captain Hart's affairs had continued to prosper, his popularity might have been different. Success wins glory, but it kills affection, which misfortune fosters. And the misfortune which overtook the captain's enterprise was truly singular. He was at the top of his career.
Page 91 - First among the pleasure fleet That came around to greet These isles from San Francisco. And first, too; only one Among the literary men That this way has ever been — Welcome, then, to Stevenson.
Page 48 - One of our political prisoners—an insurgent from Raiatea," said the Resident; and then to the jailer: "I thought I had ordered him a new pair of trousers." Meanwhile no other convict was to be seen —
Page 97 - not even the hateful day-fly of Nuka-hiva — and fever, and its concomitant, the island fe'efe'e, 1 are unknown. This is the chief station of the French on the maneating isle of Hiva-oa. The sergeant of gendarmerie 1 Elephantiasis.
Page 194 - behind him, on the panels of the house, two crossed rifles represented fasces. He wore pyjamas which sorrowfully misbecame his bulk; his nose was hooked and cruel, his body overcome with sodden corpulence, his eye timorous and dull; he seemed at once
Page 78 - lulled by this symphony, you may say to yourself, if you are able: "Better fifty years of Europe . . ." Farther on, the floor of the valley is flat and green, and dotted here and there with stripling coco palms. Through the midst, with many changes of music, the river trots and brawls; and along its course, where we should look for willows,