Journal of Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. while with the Whitney Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History on the schooner France, February to October 1924
Page 269
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Transcription
Vanoale wrote out for me a list of the names of the islets on the east side, which is reproduced on pp. 62-63. Crossed several islands - all more or less alike. On some there are huts, taro patches, pig enclosures. Some are separated only by very narrow dry channels and really belong to same land mass. Tolikava belongs to the Magistrate. Roll 35:3 Willi (who talks English fairly well), his sister Lano, and our party at Matakitoga; where Willi boils down sea water and makes salt for a living. It takes one day to boil down 90 buckets of water, which yields about 20 to 25 pounds of salt. Salt is called masima. On Teoki encountered two men caring for pigs who had an adze with a typical old wood handle but a plane blade for a head. Tried Pandanus (fala) fruit, which they had, and found it very good tasting a little like a sweetish carrot - probably enhanced by the color. (n) At Nukumunaga we took the boat, rowing up as far as Palea to complete the circuit of the lagoon. Roll 35:4 The boat, party, and Nukumasaga in the background. Quite a ways from Nukuseseke to Otafi (which consists of 4 small islets) with only reef and sandbars in between. Coral heads and rocks off shore in the lagoon. (n) Fugalei, about 200-250 yards N. by E. small, oval, typical. Motuili and Niue lie close together with Motukea a part of the same mass, fairly large. Typical. Motuloa about 220 yards N.N.E. Roll 35:5 Looking N.E. toward Motuloa, with a native canoe and one of the curious coral blocks in the foreground, from the boat. Roll 35:6 Some more of the great coral blocks lying 100 to 300 yards out in the lagoon. Looking N.W.