18 pages, including 2 sketch maps. Plus photographic plates. Original condition with blue wrappers, titles to front, and containing all the ads. This is a complete issue, seldom found in such good and original condition. This is a fascinating account of a two-year expedition in the New Hebrides, focusing on the twelve months spent on Malekula, the second largest island of the group, being 46 miles long and 26 miles wide, and being densely forested from the shore-belt to the top of the hills. The remainder of the time was spent on four other islands with six weeks on Vanua Lava, Banks Islands. The natives of Malekula were Malenesians and were reported to be quite primitive, still unuaccustomed to caucasians exploring their land. This first-hand account reveals indigenous customs and beliefs, implements and their purpose, and also discusses cannibalism. Two previous surveyers, Mr. McPahail and Mr. Deacon both died of blackwater fever before completing their work on the island. Their untimely deaths made it difficult for Miss Cheesman to later enlist native guides to accompany her, as they believed that death was always due to supernaural interference. Unwittingly, Cheesman earned a reputation of being some kind of super-bush-devil and was indeed able to achieve her objectives.
