Letters on the Nicobar Islands, Their Natural Productions, and the Manners, Customs, and Superstitions of the Natives; With an Account of an Attempt M

John Gottfried Haensel (1749-1814) was a Christian Missionary born in Saxony (now Germany). In 1758 European Missionaries began their attempts to Christianise the inhabitants of the Nicobar Islands. They abandoned it in 1787. From 1779 and for 7 years, the Reverend John Gottfried Haensel was engaged in this undertaking. He was the only surviving missionary. In 1812 he published Letters on the Nicobar Islands, Their Natural Productions, and the Manners, Customs, and Superstitions of the Natives; With an Account of an Attempt Made by the Church of the United Brethren, to Convert them to Christianity. He passed a total of 18 years in various missions in the East Indies, at Tranquebar and in the Nicobar Islands, and following that a further 18 years in missions in the Danish West-India Islands.