
The story opens as a weary traveler steps onto a remote island bathed in the fading glow of a western moon, while an eastern star glitters like a pink‑framed diamond. A salty breeze carries the sharp scent of wild lime and vanilla, stirring memories of years spent alone among the island’s original inhabitants. Guided by a seasoned captain, he watches the coastline draw nearer, spotting the coral‑built village of Falesá with its modest rooftops and a bustling market that promises a glimpse of life beyond solitary solitude.
Within the settlement, the newcomer confronts a tapestry of customs and personalities that feel both foreign and oddly familiar. He encounters traders, murmurs of old legends, and the enigmatic presence of a “panna” whose role hints at deeper cultural rites. As the island’s rhythm unfolds, tensions between the locals and the arriving outsiders begin to surface, setting the stage for a tale of discovery, conflict, and the fragile balance between tradition and change.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (157K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2014-01-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1850–1894
Best known for stories of adventure and divided selves, this Scottish writer gave the world Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. His life was as restless as his fiction, carrying him from Edinburgh to the South Pacific.
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