Marquesas Drought Broken
p. 58 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Papeete, May 10.
CIAPTAIN MERVIN, of the “Denise”. , reports that the drought in the Marquesas Group has bioken at all the Islands except Ua-Pou. This is rather extraordinary, as Ua-Pou is but 30 miles distant from Nukuhiva (where ample rain is now falling) and p<pssesses the highest mountains in the archipelago.
Yet Captain Mervin tells us, while the other Islands now are green with re vived plant life. Ua-Pou remains and,
and its plants and trees are still with ered and yellow.
Ua-Pou had the reputation, 30 years ago. of being a dangerous island. It was said that the natives there were still cannibals. Perhaps this story gained be lief because some of the elder natives had faces marked with tatoo and looked very fierce. More likely it was invented to give a thrill to tourists. Certainly the story has never been verified.
Miss Margaret Bechervaise, of the New Guinea Mission station at Sefoa. Papua, has been on furlough in Victoria.