"Richard Parkinson's Dreissig Jahre in der Sudsee was first published in 1907. In this 900-page work, Parkinson drew together and expanded on the scientific and popular papers he had been publishing since 1887, creating in the process a landmark ethnography of the Bismarck Archipelago.".

"His travels covered the islands now known as New Britain, New Ireland, New Hanover, Manus, and Buka and Bougainville, but he also collected information about the mainland of New Guinea (Kaiser Wilhelmsland). His observations covered a wide range, from religious life and ceremonies to artefacts and language. It is clear he talked extensively with people - though mostly with a translator - and compared accounts. He also took many photographs, some 200 of which were included in the volume.

Given the period, all his human subjects had to be posed, but the range of associated detail, probably unconsciously included, is very wide."--BOOK JACKET.