"TARAUNIA is the name of the Marquisan who gave me the words. I taught him to pronounce English words in July 3.4.5.6. 1979. [signed] W.B.

"Very keen to learn English. On Nuka Hiva there are differences. In fact each island has differences. Nuka Hiva another similar word for Man."

At the foot of the cover: WALTER BATTISS with "ATUONA" under "WALTER". It appears from one of his two watercolour maps that ATUONA is a town on Hiva Oa island .

The usual spelling is Marquisas whereas Battiss has used Marquises. The island is part of French Polynesia.

The booklet has many small delightful watercolours in the manner of a child's primer (including numbers, animals and colours) each titled with the Marquisan word for the illustration.

In Battiss's letter (No. 86 dated 15/7/79) to Dacre Punt he says "At Atuona in the Marquesas I drew Paul Gauguin's grave (1903) & made the FIRST colour wordbook of the Marquesan language properly ILLUSTRATED. Marquesan is different from Tahitian & there is no Marquesan Bible."