The Caroline Islands

First Edition, First Printing. With 43 illustrations and five maps and plans, with a large folding map laid in, complete. Near fine in original dark blue cloth with bright gilt lettering and design. Ex-lib, with usual library markings and previous ownership signature on front free endpaper.

An account of the authors experiences and investigations in the Caroline Islands dealing with the natives, as well as the flora and fauna. Christian was Robert Louis Stevenson's neighbor in Samoa between 1890 and 1893 who was cultivating Australian hardwoods for the nascent forestry industry of that island. He later sold his land to Stevenson and moved further into Eastern Polynesia in search of pristine island worlds. After returning to Sydney he met Louis Becke 'who told me of an ancient island Venice shrouded in jungle, an enchanted region of archaeology far away in the sea of small islands'. From this romantic beginning Christian moved to the Carolines and produced the present detailed description of island life and culture. The author was particularly fascinated by the monumental "cyclopedian" ruins on Lele Island and has produced a variety of explanations as to their origin. Octavo. 6 x 9 in. 412 pp.