Reis naar de Nieuwe Hebriden en de Salomons-eilanden De Aarde en haar Volken, 1906

A Dutch health officer stationed in New Caledonia is tasked with overseeing the controversial recruitment of island laborers for the colony’s nickel mines, coffee, tobacco and maize plantations. When Governor Pardon appoints him to oversee voyages aboard the Lady Saint Aubyn and the Mary Anderson, he sets out across the South Pacific, charting a route through little‑known archipelagos that Europeans still regard as mysterious and dangerous.

The narrative follows his early days at sea, from the cramped harbor of Nouméa past the spiny Porc‑Epic islet to the stark Yré Bay, where the crew grapples with fierce winds, loaded firearms, and the uneasy presence of native canoes. Along the way, he sketches vivid observations of the islands’ mineral wealth, the grim remnants of past rebellions, and the fragile lives of the indigenous people who are being drawn into a harsh colonial economy. The account offers a thoughtful glimpse into the complexities of 19th‑century Pacific exploration, blending travelogue detail with a reflective look at the human cost of empire.