TE ANA-UKU, OR LIVING CAVE

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 261, 15 October 1884, Page 2

TE ANA-UKU, OR LIVING CAVE

We have to acknowledge a complimentary copy of an interesting pamphlet called “ The Wairarapa Wilderness," composed of con. tributions from the pens of passengers, recording special incidents of the voyage during the excursion. The excursionists seem to have had a pleasant time of it throughout. The following is from the pan of a local resident, W. K. Cliambers Esq., who was a passenger. Mr. Chambers modestly refrained from relating the feat performed by him, in the first person, as a feat no doubt it was to dive into such uncertain depths. The sensation must have been rather novel

Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Baker Premier of the Tongan Government, a small party from the Wairarapa was provided with a boat and a boat's crew for the purpose of visiting the Ann-uku or diving cave The cave is situated nearly opposite the entrance to Vavau harbour, about seven miles from-the anchorage, and is only accessible by divine ■ On , ou f , d . own *•“ harbour we stopped to look at the Mermaid’s cave, which like most other places described by peripatetic bookmakers we thought much over-rated. From there we went to the island on or under which the cave is s.tuated, and having told some natives to meet us and act as guides, rowed lounil to the entrance of the cave. Under a small cliff from fifteen to twenty feet high our boat was made fast, but the strictest search did not reveal the entrance to the

And now came what to a stranger seemed veiy startling From a point of rock fifteen feet above the boat the natives who had come to meet us sprang one after another into the sea and disappeared “from mortal ken, from light of day. After the lapse of a few minutes copper-coloured bodies were seen shooting out from a hole in the cliff about six feet below the surface, and ns they rose eUterprS' 116 ° therdaled U 8 venture the After disrobing, one of the party took hia stand ou the gunwale of the boat, and told a native, to show the way, and as soon as the native s head was under water, sprang after him, plunging immediately into a dim obscurity, being guided by the gleam of a yellow pair of heels in front of him. Now that one was fairly launched on the enterprise, P ecul,ar and unpleasant sensation no 1 as lf your breath °° uld not possibly last more than a stroke or two farther, and from that feeling a desperate desire to break the record and get in first arose. So strong was this feeling in one of us that he gained on his guide and got a smack in the face from his heel for his pains Tne suspense was not very prolonged, however, for in about fifteen seconds, the guide stopped, and by a touch on the arm directed the adventurer to ascend, a most welcome tlibty feoHo e ng“ nnel tw “‘rfive to tllC dim . g,oom °ne saw a rope dang nig from a point of rock to which one was directed to hold on by and rest, the only > r[ hei belng , ? ■> aßged incline at the far end of the cave which European feet could hardly endure. After a few minutes observation the return journey was made, and here came the difficulty to many. This was, that in the cars • there was no stand point to dive from, You had to dive in the water and swim dom per. pendicularly four or five feet to reach the enhance to the submarine tunnel through which we had entered; having done which the rest was easy, as the light was in front and gave one heart. The next of our party who went, being determined not to bark himself as the first had done, dived down plumb for over two fathoms, and then turned very slowly in the entry to the cave. This bad start so alarmed those in the boat that they shouted to the Tongans to follow him. They immediately sprang from the rock one after the other (a very pretty sight.) and disappeared. Shortly after one of them returned and gave the welcome news that all was right. Tne third of our party who went in was the most unfortunate, as he returned rather badly BC ored on the head and back, having struck the roof of the tunnel in coining out. Ihe cave itself is not interesting, being apparently merely a bubble in the lava. It is c ‘ rcular » the roof dome-shaped, about fifty feet across and as many high. There was a slight incrustation of lime on the roof in places, and a faw stalactites. The only .ight in the cave is transmitted through the waler, and as the sun was shining directly on the entrance, I suppose we saw it at its greatest brilliancy-or rather, least gloom. A peculiar thing was observed by one of our party, which I think goes to show that the eave is nearly air-tight, viz., that as each swell receded from the cave a slight mist anpeared above the surface of the water, which must have been produced by the varvinu density of the air in the cave. The color of the water was very beautiful where the reflected light shone through it, varying from eveiy shade of blue to yellowish flashes as the swell advanced and receded. lhe tradition of the discovery of the cave is that a, Tongan in pursuit of a wounded turtle dived into the entrance and followed it into the eave. Such a courageous action well deserved the reward which followed lhe story goes on to say that the discoverer Kept the secret of the Ana-uku, and shortly afterwards having gained the affections of a lovely maid of high rank, he induced her to elope with him, and hid her in the eave till the chief s consent was gained to their union. I'urliimfavetfortilw. The only Europeans known of who had visited tile cave before our party were Captain Luce, of H.M.S. Esk, who in leaving the cave received injuries tliat eventually caused his death, two other naval officers (names unknown), and two European residents of \ avau.