Chapter VIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

at or in the front

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

growing close together but not in dense mats

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

to a great extent or degree

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

the dried meat of the coconut from which oil is extracted

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

at any time

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

capable of being imagined

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

immediately past

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

engage in

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

occurring from time to time

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

and nothing more

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

above and across; more than

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

the capital of French Polynesia on the northwestern coast of Tahiti

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

past form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the fine spores that contain male gametes and that are borne by an anther in a flowering plant

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

superlative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

living in a particular place

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

cut with a saw

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

plural of “schooner” — a large beer glass

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

in a steep manner

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

having a natural fragrance

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

an island in the south Pacific; the most important island in French Polynesia; made famous by Robert Louis Stevenson and Paul Gauguin

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

in or at that place or location

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

buying or selling securities or commodities

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

plural of “trip” — a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

directed up

From this reading All about, sloping steeply upward, were green mountains; at the end of the bay ahead, palm trees of all kinds were clustered.

precisely as stated

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

at the time that

From this reading When the sun peeped over the mountains, we awoke to the prettiest sight imaginable.

in or at the place that

From this reading We saw a number of white houses, with low white roofs; and, further back on the mountains, one considerably larger house, where the French Resident lived.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Our deck was covered with a sweet-smelling pollen, which had settled aboard during the small hours of the morning.

a Caucasian

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

in the company of; together with

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading IN THE MARQUESAS At last we were in the real Marquesas Islands, the islands we had heard so much about, the islands that very few white people ever see--for here there is only one way of communicating with the outside world, and that is by two trading schooners that make four trips a year from Papeete, Tahiti, one thousand miles away, and an occasional bark or brig that drops in here for copra.