This work investigates the historical construction of land tenure systems in Fiji and the role of colonial administration in codifying indigenous custom. Peter France, drawing on his experience as a colonial administrator and historian, examines how British officials interpreted and often invented Fijian traditions to facilitate land management. The book argues that the colonial fixation on 'custom' served as a mechanism for political control, fundamentally altering the social and economic landscape of the islands.

Historians and Pacific studies scholars frequently cite this text as a critical examination of how colonial powers manipulate local customs to serve administrative ends. Experts highlight the book's value in understanding the long-term socio-political consequences of British colonial governance in the South Pacific.