A Tale of the Pacific Isles.

Manawatu Herald, 29 June 1893, Page 3

A Tale of the Pacific Isles.

The British resident at Rarotanga sent the Governor the following two interesting letters a few months ago, and which are now nwde public : — ' From the British Eesident dated 28th February, an account appeared in the Auckland papers a few months ago of the am val at one of the islands of the Navigator (Samoan) group of ten natives (men, women, and children) who had been banished from Manuhiki (Humphrey's Island on the maps), and who found their way eventually in their boats to Samoa. The native teacher at Rakaanga has sent to the resident missionary here a very full account of the causes that led to this migration of the chief Taupe and his household. The Rev W. Lawrence has. kindly let me have the letter translated, and I enclose the* translation herewith. Rakaanga is an island about twenty miles from Manihiki. There are one and the same people. Taupc's case seems to me interest-

ing, as throwing light on the customs of these people, and, probably, on similar early migrations. It is also interesting as showing influences which led to the visit of the French man-of-war for the purpose of taking possession, and which, I am informed, was only prevented by the natives taking it upon themselves to hoist the British flag on her arrival. I believe that Manihiki and Rakaanga have since been formally declared British possessions. It will also be observed that the teacher fears further trouble on accpunt of this quarrel, in which opposite sides appear to have been taken by the Rakaanga and Tauunu people. Then follows the translation of the letter referred to : — It is I, Ranaba, that am telling you what has happened in this land. Ten people went away in boats (four men, three women, and three children) — namely Taupe and his household. Ask Butaura, who knows of trouble. It is an old trouble between Jese and Taupe. It has been a thorny root for many years, and made enmities spring from even truthful words. Jese and Toupe are related to one another. One is the elder and the other the younger in the Ariki's family of Fakaho; The title of Ariki is with Jese, he being the elder. After some time Taupe wished to be Ariki, but his tribe would not agree. That is the reason why Taupe went to Tahiti, to put Manihiki and Rakaanga into the hands of the French. Jese and Taupe have lived in enmity, the one with the other, to the present time. They were of a like evil mind to one another, and treated each other as strangers.

The beginning of the last trouble was this : Jese was staying at Tukao, and one day said he would take some food from the place he was then living in. This saying was taken to Taupe, and was made very bad in the mouth of the word-bearer. By him Taupe's heart was made sore, and he became very angry, and went to Jese. He found Jese sleeping on a bed, which he lifted up, so that Jese fell off, and his neck was hurt, but not very badly. When this was known at Tauunu the police came over from that place to judge Taupe. His fine was §50, and to be expelled from Jese's lands. The fine was paid ; and then Taupe thought, " What is the use of my staying on the island any longer ? It will be better for me to go away to sea and die." He was firm in his purpose, and made ready his boats to go away. When the people of Tauunu heard of this, and that Taupe was making ready to go away, they sent a boat to Kakaanga answered not to let Taupe go away to sea, but to v, T ait until the Penrhyn schooner had left. Then they could see further into this trouble. Tauunu would not agree to this. They wished it to be seen into at once, as it was a case in which a man was going away to die. At last they said, " Let this be the end. Let Taupe stay." To this they added that the blame would rest on Rakaanga if Taupe went back to Jese's lands and disputed as to being Ariki, and trouble then followed. Hearing these words, Rakaanga went to Tukao, and put Taupe into his boats with his household and property, and sent them away to sea. I make this known to you, be cause the trouble is not yet settled between Tauunu and Rakaanga. Enough. From Banaba.