The Savage South Seas

The author offers a traveler's account of island life across British New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the New Hebrides, blending historical notes with firsthand observation. He describes village architecture, pile dwellings and tree houses, and the construction and use of outrigger canoes and large trading lakatois. Daily practices such as fishing techniques, food preparation, betel-nut chewing, and coiffure and ornamentation receive detailed attention. Social customs covered include courtship, marriage duties, dances, mourning rituals, and the roles of witchcraft and the evil eye. Religious practices range from ancestor worship to ritual temples and sacred effigies. Economic topics include copra cultivation, labor trafficking and the activities of traders, while final chapters sketch missionary encounters and notable historical episodes.