
Embark on a six‑year odyssey across the Pacific and the far‑reaching coasts of Asia, narrated by a seasoned sailor who witnessed the world at a time when distant shores were still largely unknown to Western eyes. The account follows his journeys to Japan, the rugged shores of Kamchatka, the windswept Aleutian archipelago, and the tropical Sandwich Islands, offering vivid sketches of landscapes, wildlife, and the daily life of crews navigating uncharted waters.
Midway through the voyage, disaster strikes when the ship is wrecked on the remote island of Sannack, and the author is forced to survive a second calamity in the long‑boat that follows. His resilient spirit shines as he details the hardships of survival, the interactions with indigenous peoples, and a remarkable effort to record their language. Listeners will be drawn into a compelling blend of adventure, natural observation, and early‑19th‑century cross‑cultural curiosity.
Full title
A Voyage Round the World, from 1806 to 1812 In Which Japan, Kamschatka, the Aleutian islands, and the Sandwich Islands were Visited; Including a Narrative of the Author's Shipwreck on the Island of Sannack, and His Subsequent Wreck in the Ship's Long-Boat; with an Account of the Present State of the Sandwich Islands, and a Vocabulary of Their Language.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (215K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Henry Flower and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2014-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
b. 1787
A Scottish sailor turned his hard-traveled life into one of the early 1800s’ most vivid sea narratives. His book follows a remarkable journey through the North Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands, shaped by shipwreck, survival, and close observation.
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