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LONDON: - PRINTED FOR THE EDITOR, NO. 10, NEVIL'S COURT, FETTER LANE, BY W. McDOWALL, PEMBERTON ROW. - AND SOLD BY - HATCHARD, 190, PICCADILLY; L. B. SEELEY, 169, FLEET STREET; JOHN LE FEBVRE, CHAPEL PLACE, NEVIL'S COURT; BINNS AND HAZARD, CHEAP STREET, BATH; AND MARTIN KEENE, DUBLIN, - 1812.
LETTERS - ON - THE NICOBAR ISLANDS.
A vivid window into an 18th‑century venture, this work gathers the recollections of a seasoned missionary who spent years among the Nicobar Islands. Through his letters, readers hear about the early attempts to plant a Christian community at the behest of a Danish court, the hardships faced by the first settlers, and the modest outpost they built near Tranquebar to support their work. The narrative balances the solemn dedication of the missionaries with the everyday realities of life on remote islands.
Beyond the religious mission, the author records the islands’ remarkable flora, fauna, and the daily customs of the native peoples. He describes strange fruits, vivid birdlife, and the superstitions that shape local practices, all conveyed in a lively, conversational tone. The book offers a rare blend of natural history and cultural insight, inviting listeners to travel back to a time when curiosity and perseverance drove explorers into the unknown.
Full title
Letters on the Nicobar islands, their natural productions, and the manners, customs, and superstitions of the natives with an account of an attempt made by the Church of the United Brethren, to convert them to Christianity with an account of an attempt made by the Church of the United Brethren, to convert them to Christianity
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (89K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2008-10-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Best known for his vivid letters about the Nicobar Islands, this eighteenth-century missionary left behind a rare firsthand account of island life, natural history, and cross-cultural encounter. His writing is valuable not just as travel literature, but as a window into the ambitions and limits of early Protestant missions.
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