Tahiti

First edition, 8vo (212 x 125 mm), x, [1], 290pp., ownership inscription on upper margin of title "John S. V. Vernon. Novr. 1847.", some spotting of the text in places, orig. cloth, spine faded, head of spine and lower hinge partly frayed, uncut, gilt lettering on spine. Coulter was surgeon aboard the whaler "Stratford", which left London in October 1832, bound for the Pacific, by way of Cape Horn. He gives a detailed and lengthy account of the Marquesas, where he assumed native dress, was tattooed, and became involved in a tribal war. Other islands visited included the Falkland Islands, the Galapagos Islands, Chatham Island, the Gilberts, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. There were stops at the ports of South and North America, New Guinea and Melanesia. He made three stops at Tahiti and provides a general account of the island, as well as a detailed discussion of the English Missionaries there. Chapter V11 gives a description of fitting up a ship for sperm whaling, and gives an account of his first successful attempt at killing a whale. The "Stratford" returned to England in 1836. Sabin, 17142; Hill, 1, p.70.