Toki: The True Adventures of William Mariner

by Brian K. Crawford

When the British privateer Port au Prince put into the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga in December 1806, her crew was seeking help. But the Tongan king Finau attacked the ship, killing half the crew and enslaving the rest. The voyage ended in disaster and death.But for one young Englishman, fifteen-year-old William Mariner, a whole new adventure had just begun. Finau adopted Mariner, giving him the name of his beloved dead son, Toki. Alone and terrified, Mariner quickly learned to adapt to his new life. He learned the language fluently and soon rose from slave to a member of the noble class. He led armies into combat, took part in the sports and social lives of the Tongan nobles, and eventually became the lord of his own plantation. He and Finau’s family formed a deep friendship that spanned the vast differences between their cultures.This fascinating novel retells Mariner’s true story, bringing to vibrant life a courageous young man coming of age in an alien society. Intelligent, perceptive, and astute, Mariner found the Tongans admirable and intelligent and provided the outside world with its first intimate account of their society, language, religion, and customs. For the Tongan people, it is the primary source for the culture and way of life that was changed forever by the missionaries who arrived soon after Mariner left.Brian Crawford lived in Tonga and visited the sites of Mariner’s adventures. He interviewed Tongan historians, consulted British, Tongan, and Australian libraries and documents, and spent thirty years in research. Fully documented and annotated, much of this material has never before been published. He lives now in Marin County, California.

578 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009