Ban On Visitors

To Rurutu and Rimatara Islands in Fr. Oceania

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Sept. 14.

A DECISION recently promulgated by His Excellency the Governor of French Oceania decrees that access to and sojourn on the islands of Rurutu and Rimatara are interdicted to persons not natives of those islands.

Rurutu and Rimatara are among the last in Eastern Polynesia where the nat ive inhabitants follow the life and habits of their ancestors, modified only by the better elements of European civilisation.

This wise and merciful decree will bear fruit in the health and happiness of these people, who are worthy representatives of the finest type of pure-blood Polynesian which, by inter-marriage with other races, is rapidly disappearing in the South Pacific.

The natives of Rurutu and Rimatara are devout church people. The manner of the introduction of Christianity to Rimatara is an interesting story.

When the first white men landed, in 1811, a Marae was discovered erected to Jehovah, and which served alike with their other gods but with clearly greater attention. The reason was soon found. A woman castaway, the lone survivor of a canoe which had been blown out of its course from Tahiti, had initiated the cult.

All save her had died of exposure and thirst and she was nigh dead herself when the canoe was seen from Rimatara and brought to land. A leading chief, who was continually at war with chiefs of other districts, took her as his wife.

Again and again he lost out in the con stant fights. The woman finally persuaded him to call upon the new god she had heard of at Tahiti, her home, since his own gods seemed useless. He followed her advice, built a special Marae to the woman’s Jehovah, told his followers they would now be invincible, and so enthused them that they carried all before them.

From that time Jehovah took precedence over all the other Rimatara deities.

Captain Henry—a relative (not a son) of Henry, of the Duff —who discovered Rimatara in 1811, took measures to teach the people the true meaning of the Gospel and since that time native pastors have been in religious charge.

Rurutu Island (discovered by Cook in 1769) decided for Christianity in 1821 without the aid of European outsiders.

Some years previously an epidemic struck the island and two double canoes filled with natives fled to neighbouring isles.

But the winds were contrary: one canoe load perished of want; the other was blown to Raiatea.

The newcomers were so impressed by the work of the missionaries on that island that they sought to learn of the new teachings and took two native teach ers with them when they returned to Rurutu. Arriving, they related their adventures and the two Christians knelt

down for prayer in the sacred Marae. of Oro.

This was a terrible sacrilege, and the home pagans did not doubt but that both would shortly die.

When they continued in perfect health, the residents were rudely shaken in their old beliefs and listened readily to the Christian creed. When they were told that, contrary to pagan custom, both sexes could and should eat together, the test was made in fear and trepidation.

Nothing happened, so the idols were des troyed, being consumed in flame and the various Marae thrown down.