Danes In The South

Seas

Inquiry from Copenhagen

Letter to the Editor FROM the writings of famous author Robert Louis Stevenson, I have learned that when he made a voyage from the Marquesas Islands to Faka rava atoll, Eastern Pacific, on board the “Casco” in 1888-89, he engaged a Danish mate as pilot. In two books by the well known French author and yachtsman, Alain Gerbault (“Sur La Route de Re tour” and “L’Evangile du Soleil”), men tion is made of that Dane living on the island of Makemo (Perfection), in the Tuamotu Group. I am anxious to find out the personal history of this Danish sailor, but both Stevenson and Gerbault omit to give his name.

Seeking information, I wrote to R.L.S.’s stepson, Mr. Lloyd Osbourne, whose address is Nice, France, and he replied that “Mr. Stevenson engaged a man named von der Goltz to guide the ‘Casco’ from Marquesas to Tahiti. He was a fine-looking old fellow of 60 or so”.

The name von der Goltz is well-known in Danish army history—in connection with the Thirty Years’ War and with the period from 1789 to 1818; but both mem bers of the family who came to Den mark returned to their native countries, Poland and Germany, without leaving an cestors in Denmark. The name is still famous in Germany and belongs to a noble family.

If von der Goltz was 60 when R. L. S. engaged him in the Marquesas, then he must have lived to a ripe old age, for Gerbault says he met the same man when he visited Makemo around 1924.

Another Dane, whom I am trying to trace, is a South Seas trader named Or toft (or Orntoft), better known in the Pacific as “Leonard”. In 1899 the Ger man firm, Hernsheims, seeking to estab lish a station at Matty (New Guinea) en gaged Ortoft, who had had considerable experience in the Solomons and in New Ireland. I understand that he picked up the native language, took three wives, and eventually succeeded in making himself chief of the Matty natives.

Can any reader of the “P.1.M.” verify the above details concerning the Danes mentioned or give me any further history and information concerning them?

I am, etc.,

Bent R. Nielsen.

28, 1. Oester Voldgade, Copenhagen. K., Denmark. 30/7/1939.

EDITORIAL NOTE.—Mr. Nielsen is a Danish journalist who has undertaken the task of tracing Danes who have wan dered about the Pacific and other parts, and led adventurous lives, during the past century. As a result of an article in the “Pacific Islands Monthly”, he was able to publish recently in the Denmark news paper “Vordingborg Venstreblad” an ac count of the life of “Deliverance Harry” (Henrik Enevoldsen, born at Langebaek.

Denmark), who lived for 45 years on lonely Deliverance Island, in Torres Strait. Islands residents who possess knowledge of the history of Danish trad ers or sailors who roved among the Paci fic Islands during the last 50 years or so would be doing an appreciated favour if they communicated with Mr. Nielsen at his address, shown above.

Miss M. J. Mune, of the Fiji Post and Telegraph Department, is spending leave in Australia.