Ethnology of Futuna

The island of Futuna and its smaller neighbour Alofi lie about 150 miles north east of the Fiji group and the author, his wife and child, visited them for serveral months in 1932 to research this publication, assisted by the Bishop Museum. Previously little had been written in ethnological terms about the islands, though missionaries had, over many years, compiled detailed descriptions of the islands ands their inhabitants. Although his visit was comparatively brief, Burrows was able to prepare a comprehensive and detailed account covering many virtually all aspect of the islands and their people. This ranged over geography, history, Polynesian contacts, social and cultural issues, administration, outside influences, archeology, food sources, trade, clothing, crafts, implements and weapons and other factors. In his infroduction Borrows says that the daily routine of Futuna had been little affected by European customs (at the time of his visit).