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Transcription
Ashore at the village (Fakaofu) and had a conference with the Magistrate
and chiefs on the official lanai (see 37:1). The Magistrate, Seanoa, is a
languid man of 45, with ordinary intelligence, and does not speak English. The
chief, Veniale, is younger, about 37 or 8, of fine physique and personal ap-
pearance, well educated and speaks fair English.
After a long pow-wow over Correia's killing birds, I had a quiet talk
with the Magistrate and chief men; explaining the museum's interest in the
people of the south seas and the plant and animal life of the islands. As a
concrete example I told them about Hehe, who had been kidnapped 60 years before,
taken to Peru and returned as far as Rapa, where he had married and was still
living. They were much impressed by the news, some remembering his disap-
pearance, and by his pictures and the fact that his grandson, Taea, was mate
of our schooner. They asked me to be present at a meeting of the old men,
which they would call, and of which more later.
Fakaofu (islet) is not only the highest of those surrounding the lagoon,
but is artificially banked up with stone walls, against high seas. Here the
entire population of about 450 have their homes. Between the houses and stone
lined gravel walks, the ground is thickly planted with bananas, noni, bread-
fruit, Pandanus, coconut palms, talotalo, Pua (a gardenia-like plant with a
stiff ovate leaf and sweet scented, white flower), and Kou. The houses appear
clean, neat and substantial (although I heard that they were all blown down
in a hurricane a few years ago).
Walked up the reef to Fonua fala. The reef is about 3/8 mile wide, flat
on top and at low tide just awash. It was ebb tide and ankle deep. Near the
island of Fakaofu there is a broad band of erect sea weed - vau (see specimen),
but beyond the reef is bare, except near the middle where there are flat and
jagged rocks. Numerous sea slugs and large purple sea urchins (V ana) in
depressions and under the edges of rocks.
Fonua fala is one of the most luxuriantly covered of the islets, with