The Cruise of the Mary Rose, or Here and There in the Pacific, by
William H G Kingston.
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This book is very largely about the work of Christian missionaries in
the Pacific. There is a thin plot, but otherwise we are treated to
lengthy texts extracted from the reports of various missionaries, and of
Naval officers who had visited the area.
The book is dressed up with a cover and a title that makes it look like
a boy's adventure story from the second half of the nineteenth century.
I imagine that many a kindly old aunt, searching for a Christmas present
for a favourite nephew, will have bought a copy, and been surprised when
the "thank-you" letter didn't seem as effusive as she expected. But
don't let me stop you reading it if you are interested in the work of
these brave missionaries.
Kingston is generally quite pious in his writings, so you can imagine
how pious he is when trying to out-missionary the missionaries.
Some of their more nauseous habits of their "clients" are described,
such as eating your enemy when you have killed him.
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THE CRUISE OF THE MARY ROSE, OR HERE AND THERE IN THE PACIFIC, BY
WILLIAM H G KINGSTON.