This book was first published in 1939. Its author, Robert W. Williamson, died in 1933. The volume was subsequently completed, and carefully edited, by Ralph Piddington, who drew upon Williamson's research at length in order to speculate whether the formation of a cohesive ethnology of Polynesia could be possible. This fascinating volume draws upon work within the field as well as historical and theoretical study, and is itself a valuable investigation of Polynesia's people. Williamson and Piddington discuss patterns of migration between these pacific islands and from Polynesia to Oceania,...

Robert Wood Williamson (1856 1932) was a British solicitor and anthropologist who worked extensively in New Guinea and Polynesia. Originally published in 1937, this book was produced in edited form following an investigation of posthumous manuscripts arranged by Williamson's executors in 1935. The text presents a detailed account of religious and mythical structures in Central Polynesia and their relationship with the social organization of indigenous cultures. A detailed bibliography and textual notes are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the Central...

Robert Wood Williamson (1856 1932) was a British solicitor and anthropologist who worked extensively in New Guinea and Polynesia. Originally published in 1924, this book forms part of a three-volume study by Williamson on the socio-political systems of Polynesian islands near the equator. The study was written with the intention of consolidating the observations made in the extensive and various literature on the subject of Central Polynesian indigenous societies into a unified and accessible text. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Polynesia and the development of...

Robert Wood Williamson (1856 1932) was a British solicitor and anthropologist who worked extensively in New Guinea and Polynesia. Originally published in 1933, this book forms one of two volumes by Williamson on the religious, mythical and cosmic structures of Central Polynesia. The work was unfinished at the time of Williamson's death, but it was considered near enough completion to be published posthumously in its final form. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of anthropology and the religious cultures of Polynesia."

Robert Wood Williamson (1856 1932) was a British solicitor and anthropologist who worked extensively in New Guinea and Polynesia. Originally published in 1933, this book forms one of two volumes by Williamson on the religious, mythical and cosmic structures of Central Polynesia. The work was unfinished at the time of Williamson's death, but it was considered near enough completion to be published posthumously in its final form. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of anthropology and the religious cultures of Polynesia."

Robert Wood Williamson (1856 1932) was a British solicitor and anthropologist who worked extensively in New Guinea and Polynesia. Originally published in 1924, this book forms part of a three-volume study by Williamson on the socio-political systems of Polynesian islands near the equator. The study was written with the intention of consolidating the observations made in the extensive and various literature on the subject of Central Polynesian indigenous societies into a unified and accessible text. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Polynesia and the development of...

Robert Wood Williamson (1856 1932) was a British solicitor and anthropologist who worked extensively in New Guinea and Polynesia. Originally published in 1924, this book forms part of a three-volume study by Williamson on the socio-political systems of Polynesian islands near the equator. The study was written with the intention of consolidating the observations made in the extensive and various literature on the subject of Central Polynesian indigenous societies into a unified and accessible text. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Polynesia and the development of...