Gravity Anomalies in the East Indian Archipelago [AND] By Submarine through the Netherlands East Indies. by MEINSEZ, Dr. F. A. Vening - 1931

London: Royal Geographical Society, 1931. 27 pages, plus photographic plates and a large fold-out colour map measuring 13 x 21 inches (33 x 53cm). Original condition with blue wrappers, titles to front, and containing all the ads. This is a complete issue, seldom found in such good and original condition. The author and his team completed a detailed survey of the entire archipelago of the Dutch East Indies (Nederlands-Indië), during three cruises aboard the Dutch submarine K XIII, altogether covering 16,000 miles. This is the journey on which Meinesz visited Christmas Island. Dr. Meinesz was a revered scientist who lived for six months aboard a submarine for the purposes of taking maritime-gravity observations, a most strenuous endeavor which proved very successful and valuable. Two most compelling reports of a successful expedition through the beautiful Netherlands East Indies by way of submarine, in the vessel, Hr. Ms. KXIII, giving the reader a glimpse of the inner floorplan and the general atmosphere and discomfort of life in such tight quarters, and most importantly, an appreciation for the beautiful region and the remarkable civilizations occupying it. Featuring a Badjo village; the Banggai archipelago; Menado, Celebes; Minangkabao; temples of Bali; Macassar; Pare Pare, Fort Rotterdam, the island of Nias; the indigenous people of Siberut; the island of Sabang; Karbouwengat near Fort de Kock; Toba Lake, central Sumatra; a Batak village; Kabandjahe, amongst many other wonders. Illustrated with Numerous Plates, this is a Delightful Account of Customs in the Netherlands East Indies in the 1930's, accompanied by a bright fold-out color map to record observations surrounding the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes (Sulawesi), Mindanao, and New Guinea. Pre-date the author's book, "Description of the submarine voyages made by the Dutch Prof. Dr. F.A. Vening Meinesz, B.Sc and the gravity anomalies he measured in the Indian Archipelago." Three trips were made: the first two months' duration covering more than 7000 miles in the eastern part of the Archipelago; the second trip of one month and 4000 miles travelling around the island of Celebes; and the third covering 5000 miles exploring the circumference of the island of Sumatra for a month and a half. The Netherlands East Indies is described as being inhabited by a numerous population belonging to many different people and races, each with their own civilization, ranging from the most primitive of New Guinea to the the highly developed of Java and Sumatra, and as being distinguished by beautiful tropical scenery. . First Edition.