Histoire des naturels des Iles Tonga ou des Amis, situées dans l'Océan Pacifique depuis leur découverte par le Capitaine Cook; rédigée par John Martin, sur les détails fournis par William Mariner, qui y a passé plusieurs années; ...Paris, Gide and Nicolle (back of half-title: Imprimerie de J. Smith), 1817. 2 volumes. 8vo. Contemporary red half morocco, gold-tooled spine, paper sides with the crowned monogram of Empress Marie-Louise in gold on both sides of each volume.

XXII, [23]-398, [2]; 398 pp.First edition of the French translation of an important account of the Tonga islands by the English William Charles Mariner (1791-1853), who lived in Tonga for four years. When he was young, Mariner sailed in the privateer Porte au Prince to the New World with the objective of attacking Spanish ships and searching for whales. They seized several Spanish vessels and added several Hawaiians to the crew in 1806. Their visit to the Tonga Islands proved fatal: almost the entire the crew was massacred by the natives (ironically, James Cook had dubbed Tonga the "Friendly Islands"). The author, however, survived and lived there from circa 1806 to 1810, observing and recording Tonga culture with a keen eye for detail. Volume two includes some interesting notes on James Cook, who with his crew had met a friendly reception there. "Mariner's meticulous observations on Tonga make this a key historical text on the history and culture of this island group" (Forbes).From the library of Marie-Louise (1791-1847), Empress as the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte until his defeat in 1814 and then Duchess of Parma. Her library contained many books on natural history, but also many travel books. It was dispersed in the 1930's. Binding slightly rubbed along the extremities. A few small spots in text. Overall in very good condition.l Forbes 468; cf. Howgego, 1800-1850, M14.