Graves tells a story with many surprising twists, in which some characters turn out to be quite different from how they are first portrayed.

In Graves's telling, when the Spanish first come into contact with Solomon Islanders, the relationship is cordial.

However, the Spanish expedition's need for fresh food and water quickly leads to tension and conflict, the Solomon Islanders’ subsistence economy being unable to provide continuous supplies.

The real prizes are pigs, desperately needed by the Spanish, while vital to the local people's economy.

Graves also considered that the story summarizes the reasons Spain lost its early lead in exploring the world.