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Ancient Gods

Mysterious Events on Papeete Waterfront

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Dec. 18.

THE local schooner “Valencia,” wrecked over a year ago on the outer reef of Raivavae Island, as reported in these notes at the time, was brought safely into Papeete harbour last week by Mr. Steve Higgins, and, after unloading a cargo of miscellaneous produce and live-stock from the Austral group, proceeded to the ship yard for further repairs.

The “Valencia’s” engine was success fully salvaged some months ago, and a complete new bottom was put bit by bit on the vessel as she lay on the reef at Raivavae; a risky job demanding much skill and patience. As the “Denise,” the new name she has been given for luck, the vessel will soon take her place again amongst the fleet of schooners plying throughout French Oceania.

Among other articles of interest brought away from Raivavae by the “Valencia were two large stone idols of great an tiquity, one of which weighs about six tons. These have been presented to the Colony by the Raivave people, and are now housed in the ethnological museum at Papeete.

Coincidently with the landing of these ancient relics, some curious phenomena took place in Papeete. People lounging about the waterfront that same evening were startled to observe flames bursting at intervals from the still waters of the lagoon in front of the Protestant Church.

A crowd was quickly on the scene, in spite of the lateness of the hour, and some wild and wonderful theories went the rounds to account for these unaccustomed happenings. Many, especially those be longing to a certain religious sect, thought that the last day had arrived, according to prophecy, and looked upon these strange manifestations as the prelude to a violent eruption which would devastate the island. But the explanation most popular with the natives was that the ancient gods were angry at the desecra tion of their temples and the removal of the effigies from their resting places.

Some of the older men, good Church goers but heathens still at heart, walked sorrowfully away to their homes.

Meanwhile, the unaccountable poppings and illuminations went on, and the crowd increased to such an extent that the police had to take charge.

Finally, a bold young man paddled out in a canoe, took a dive overboard, and re-appeared with a bottle, whose evil contents so overcame him that he was hard put to it to regain his canoe.

Later, examination proved that the bottle contained a mixture of flour and phosphorus, which had probably been prepared for killing cockroaches on board one of the local schooners, and then thrown into the harbour, where the de composition of the mass brought about a chemical change and gave rise to the manifestations which caused so much excitement.

After an interval of 14 years since the last event of this kind, a Samoan woman has given birth to triplets, all boys and in splendid health. The Government has awarded the family the usual bounty, given in “Glaxo.”