Tuamotus

Secret Cult Of

May Indicate Common Aryan Origin of Europeans and Polynesians

WHEN the early missionaries came to the Islands they examined and made copious notes concerning the religion of the natives.

Men like Henry Nott and J. M. Ors mond gained the confidence of the high priests and secured full details of ritual and doctrine. The Polynesian clergy were frank in exposing all the elements of the popular religion and the ceremonies at the Marae; but they were careful to give no hint of, or reveal in any way, the exist ence of a secret cult which had existed since time immemorial.

For nearly a century, the knowledge of that esoteric cult has lain hidden from the knowledge of European students.

It is only in recent times that an im perfect insight into its elements has been given to Polynesian scholars in New Zea land, and its full significance was not re vealed until the researches of Mr. J.

Frank Stimson (of the Bishop Museum) in the Eastern Tuamotus, brought to light the innermost secrets of the esoteric rit uals.

Mr. Stimson’s introduction to his bulle tin No. 111, entitled “The Cult of Kiho- Tumu”, begins as follows:—“The follow ing account of the cult of Kiho-Tumu sup plements my study of Tuamotu religion.

The present record seems to confirm in many essentials the main conclusions of my previous study, and brings new and welcome support to the thesis already elaborated.

“In brief, this thesis maintains that an early ethnic wave of Polynesians—termed, for convenience, Palae-Polynesian— brought with it a conception of cosmo genesis and of a supreme god, which formed an esoteric religion taught only to the priests and nobles.

“The philosophical ideas involved are so lofty that it is difficult to imagine how they could have arisen among barbaric peoples. It would appear more logical to infer that they were derived from some highly-developed, ancient civilization, somewhere in south-eastern Asia, in pre historic times.

“Whatever the explanation may be, the fact remains that this brief and imper fect fragment of a nobler past bears liv ing witness to the genius of the Palae- Polynesian race, whose capacity for philo sophic reflection and introspection has, perhaps, never been surpassed and rarely equalled by any people of a similar cul tural level.”

It is true that the exoteric cult—that taught to the common people—contained many references to the supreme god, Kiho (or To, in New Zealand and Tho in the Society Islands); but so overlaid and dis guised that its true significance was hid den from the uninitiated Polynesians and early European investigators alike, until very recent times.

The true name of the supreme deity was so intensely tapu that it could be pro nounced only in some secret place, and then only In a low whisper.

Traces of the cult are all but lost at Tahiti. Yet there are memories in place names, the most striking of which is that given to the land in Arue, where is the burial ground of the royal family.

In “The Cult of Riho” is a “chant of

the Sacred Possessions of Kiho-The-All- Source”, of which the following is the first stanza; — “My Sacred Crimson Diadem, whereof I chant, is woven, is interlaced together; it is called ‘The Blinding Lightning Flash’, a diadem sanctified in sacred ritual, be longing to the Supreme Creator, as he stands upon the sacred terrace of his temple Ahu-Toru (altar of ascending fire).”

The royal burial place at Arue is named Ahu-Toru; and, in addition, it is said, the ancient name of the royal Marae Tarahoi (on Point Outu Aiai, in the same district) was '“Marae Ahu-Toru”. To modern Tahitians this name is merely a place name without significance.

It is well-known that most of the people of antiquity possessed an esoteric worship, termed the Mysteries to which those only were admitted who had been prepared by certain ceremonies, called initiations.

Where these Mysteries originated is not known. It is supposed that they came from India, by way of Chaldea, into Egypt, and thence were carried to Greece.

Centuries of research and speculation have not disclosed the precise nature of these antique initiations, nor the doct rines taught in their arcana. Enough has been culled from the guarded allusions to the Mysteries, by ancient authors who were themselves initiates to confirm the surmise that they concerned the Universe and the doctrine of One Supreme Creator of that Universe.

The analogy between these elements of the Mysteries and those of the Cult of lo (or Kiho or Kio, according to the dialect in which the name occurs) in Polynesia, gives credence to the theory of their com mon origin in remote times, before the dawn of history.

Might it not be logical to infer that in this esoteric Polynesian lore we may have the primitive form of those Mysteries of antiquity, which have baffled the curios ity of the uninitiated throughout the ages, as well as another signpost pointing to the common Aryan origin of the Polynesian and European race?—A.C.R.

land is an ideal place for a hospital and there can be no question of inflicting hardship on anyone.

The Administration have purchased from the natives in this district (as well as other districts) a great number of small areas of land which they have set aside for native reserves. These areas of land are the best available, and mostly have beach frontages. The titles are vested in the protector of natives and cannot be sold. A great number of these reserves have no natives living on them. These three reserves have more than one thou sand bearing coconut palms on them, and are capable of carrying more than fifty natives, yet there is not one native living on them. These areas of land are free to any native who cares to live on them; no rent to pay; the natives are, however, ex pected to keep them reasonably clean.

I think there is little doubt that the action of the natives, in pulling out the survey pegs, was inspired by a European, the name of whom would not be hard for anyone living here to guess.

I am etc.,

H. J. Washington.

Kabaira Plantation, North Coast, Rabaul. 15/10/’3S.