Rare in the original wrappers, this notoriously uncommon book was written by a Belgian trader who settled in Tahiti in the late 1820s. Moerenhout’s contribution to the literature of the Bounty mutineers has been largely overlooked.
The author made four principal voyages throughout the South Pacific, and his book is packed with interesting detail, arranged island by island. He had a particularly keen eye for the customs of the Polynesians and collected valuable historical information as he travelled. Importantly, there is a fascinating account of a conversation with John Adams on Pitcairn, the last remaining Bounty mutineer. This was in 1829, three months before his death, and there is also a portrait of Adams among the plates. Moerenhout thought highly of Adams and was convinced that the settlement at Pitcairn would struggle to survive without him. Indeed, such was his interest, the account of his stay on Pitcairn Islands is forty pages long, pp.283-322.
Furthermore, there is a long description of the island and its inhabitants. He was also instrumental in the Pritchard affair which was a key event in the French annexation of Tahiti. Moerenhout was also a good artist and some of his drawings were used to illustrate Tahiti in the Atlas Pittoresque for Dupetit-Thouar’s voyage of the Vénus.
Hill, 1170; Forbes, 1065; Kroepelian, 856; O’Reilly-Reitman, 876; Sabin, 49829.
