In November 1806, the damaged Port-au-Prince arrived at what Captain Cook had called the Friendly Islands. William Charles Mariner (1791 1853) was among the few crew members spared by the native inhabitants. He lived there for four years. Published in 1818, this two-volume second edition offers an important early insight into Tongan customs and language. As editor John Martin (1789 1869) explains, the structure of a nation's language is vital to the consideration of its history. So successful was the first edition of 1817 expanded upon here to include 'generally corroborative, and in a few...

In November 1806, the damaged Port-au-Prince arrived at what Captain Cook had called the Friendly Islands. William Charles Mariner (1791 1853) was among the few crew members spared by the native inhabitants. He lived there for four years. Published in 1818, this two-volume second edition offers an important early insight into Tongan customs and language. As editor John Martin (1789 1869) explains, the structure of a nation's language is vital to the consideration of its history. So successful was the first edition of 1817 expanded upon here to include 'generally corroborative, and in a few...