An Authentic Narrative Of Four Years' Residence At Tongataboo: One Of The Friendly Islands, In The South-Sea - Softcover

George Vason

Softcover

ISBN 10: 046131830X ISBN 13: 9780461318302

Publisher: HardPress, 2019

Synopsis

An Authentic Narrative Of Four Years' Residence At Tongataboo: One Of The Friendly Islands, In The South-Sea by George Vason. This early 19th?century voyage diary recounts a London Missionary Society project to transport missionaries to the South Seas aboard the Duff in 1796. The narrative follows the author from his humble English beginnings to his experiences in the Pacific, including landfalls at St. Jago, Rio de Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope, New Holland, and the islands of Tahiti, Eimeo, and Tongataboo. It weaves observations on navigation, astronomy, and natural history with detailed ethnographic notes on islanders’ customs, religion, dress, marriage, and social hierarchy. The book also documents the challenges of missionary work: cultural barriers, language difficulties, political tensions, and the ups and downs of colonizing enterprise. A central thread is the author’s moral journey—from religious awakening to temptation, marriage to a native, moral decline, repentance, and ultimately a reconsideration of Christian vocation. An appendix offers fourteen inferences on missionary practice and strategy. The work illuminates early missionary ventures, intercultural encounter, and the ethical complexities of faith, governance, and cross-cultural exchange.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 046131830X
• ISBN 13: 9780461318302
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260