Phantom Islands and Historical Fabrications

This chapter examines an 1820s account of a British ship's discovery of an uncharted island near Fiji and the dubious interactions with its inhabitants. It explores themes of colonial power dynamics, the concept of phantom islands like Pemeka and Bermeja, and their implications on geopolitical aspects. Additionally, it delves into the musical genre of exotica, connecting the misrepresentation of cultures with the creation of imaginary places and the bias inherent in maps.