Manners and Customs of the New Zealanders; With Notes Corroborative of their Habits, Usages, etc., and Remarks to Intending Emigrants, with Numerous Cuts Drawn on Wood. [Two volumes]

Neatly rebacked with most of original cloth spines laid down, and endpapers renewed. Small loss of cloth along edges of corners of boards, and small 12mm loss of cloth alond edge of front board on volume one. Folding map in volume one with moderate foxing, a 50mm tear with old paper tape repair, and a 25mm tear. Overall a nice set.; Two volumes (complete). Volume One: xxxiv, 288 pages + frontispiece (portrait of Tangieri) + 1 folding map. Volume Two: [2 (blank)], (iii)-xviii, 304 pages + frontispiece (portrait of Hauputu) + 1 plate (Parramatta, facing page 1). Both volumes: Gilt and blind-stamped green cloth boards. Gilt lettering and decoration to spines. Rebacked with original spine cloth laid down. Page dimensions: 191 x 117mm. All page edges gilt. In-text illustrations. "The favourable reception given by the public to my narrative of Travels and Adventures in New Zealand, has induced me to present in like manner, a more systematic description of the manners, customs, habits, and usages of the singularly interesting people, comprising its inhabitants, at a time when general attention is fixed on that country, as offering an emporium for industry, capital and commerce." - page one of the Preface. [Reference: Bagnall 4588 - "An expansion of the Maori chapters in the earlier book ["New Zealand: Being a Narrative . . ." (1838)] in which Polack attempted a systematic description of Maori social life and customs [. . .] of greater interest for the specific incidents and personalities encountered on the author's travels [. . .]"; Hocken, p. 85 - "Illustrations and observations valuable and original, with copious details of all that relates to the native race."].…