The Voyage of François Pyrard of of Laval
to the East Indies, the Maldives, the Moluccas and Brazil. Translated into English from the third French edition of 1619 and edited, with notes, by Albert Gray, assisted by H. C. P. Bell.
London, Hakluyt Society, 1887
On July 2, 1602, Pyrard and a handful of sailors were shipwrecked on South Maalhosmadulu Atoll of the Maldives. They were taken captive by the Maldivians and spent five years as "unwilling guests" on the islands, with most of the time spent on Malé. The sailors endured malaria and sporadic cruel treatment during their captivity. Nevertheless, Pyrard took pains to learn the local Dhivehi language and by doing so was able to achieve an insight into Maldivian society never before experienced by a European. He took extensive notes regarding Dhivehi culture, customs and history.
Hakluyt Society First Series, LXXVI, LXXVII, LXXX; 2 vols in 3 parts, 8vos (22.5 x 15 cm); 2 frontispieces, 16 in-text illustrations, 1 map, ex libris Inner Temple Library with bookplates and stamps, withdrawn stamp to titles, mostly unopened, a touch of marginal dampstaining to frontispieces; original publisher's gilt blue cloth, some dampstaining to boards, spines darkened, a good set; lviii, 452; xlvi, 288; xii, (289)-572pp.
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