FIRST EDITION. Two Volumes. Recent ½ burgundy morocco with blind borders and marble boards, spine in six compartments of raised bands and gilt floral motifs, gilt text on two and four, endpapers renewed. Complete with 13 plates (including a folding map) and a profusion of in-text woodcuts; while most of the plates are wood-engravings, there are three hand-coloured plates, including the frontispiece. 8vo. Aside from a short tear to the folding chart of Fiji in the first volume and minor damp staining to the upper margin of the “Nambekavu” plate in the second volume (not affecting the image), this book is in very good condition; the text and plates are generally clean and crisp. Pagination: Volume 1. (2), blank, frontis, half-title, blank, title, printer’s imprint, preface v-vi, contents vii-x, list of illustrations, blank, 1-266, printer’s imprint, blank, (4); Volume 2. (4), half-title, blank, blank, frontis, title, printer’s imprint, preface, blank, contents, list of illustrations, 1-435, printer’s imprint, advertisements, blank, (4). The preface to the first volume gives a few guidelines for the pronunciation of the Fijian language. The book contains information on the origins of the natives, their warlike tendencies, industrial produce, manners, customs, religion, and language. The enormity of the task attempted and accomplished in Fiji is a tribute to the persistent endeavours of the various missionary societies at work in the South Seas". Coloured plates in order: Volume 1. 1. Frontispiece. Thakombau, Vu-Ni-Valu, King of Mbau Fiji. 2. Heads of Chiefs in Full Dress. 3. Modes of Painting the Face. Volume 2. No coloured plates.