Bora Bora

Interesting Place in History

PORA Pora, usually called Bora Bora and anciently named Vavua, is one oi the smaller, but, historically, far from the least important, of the Society Is lands in French Oceania.

Pora Pora derives its name, which means “first born”, from the belief that

!t was the first island that sprang up after the creation of Havai’i (Ra'iatea).

In former times Pora Pora was celebrated and feared because of the warfSJSTS.II* 8 Pora Porasnpnt H Born ° f the fhp^innrf d ?,, «,o „i-i th f, n ? ,n ? ® lven to the island in the old chants, because its

muffled, so as to give no warning of their approach.

Edward T. Perkins in his book “Na Motu” (published in 1854) writes of its history as follows: “This little spot of e tj=ht square miles has been the nursery of the most daring and successful war riors the group ever produced. More than 40 years ago (i.e., in the first decade of the 19th century) Tapoa. its king, bv successful wars, united the Society Is lands (Leeward Group) into one con

federacy; and he had proceeded to Tahiti to crown his victories by the con quest of that island, when death arrested him in his career.

“In 1832, the last battle of conquest was fought at Tahaa, in which Tapoa, a grand-son of the renowned chieftian, sustained a signal defeat.

“Since then its inhabitants have re mained at peace and undisturbed by the political differences of the other islands . of the group”.

Even so long ago as the fourteenth century, “after the dispersion of the Te ao-Te’a and Te-ao-Ur’i confederation, the Hau-Pahu-Nu’i alliance was made be tween Tahiti, Huahine, Ra’iatea and Maupiti for aid in maintaining their independence when invaded by the war like people of Pora Pora and other is lands”. (Henry.) A venerable scholar of Ra’iatea told the writer how the warriors of Opoa once preserved their district from in vasion. Knowing the war canoes of Pora Pora would attack, the Opoa people erected fortifications along the shore and stripping the neighbouring plantations, placed ripe coconuts, decorated with head-dresses, along the ramparts; so that, from a distance, it would appear a numerous army had gathered to de fend them. When the Pora Pora war canoes approached, the Rauti (orators whose office it was to inspire warriors to battle) walked along the ramparts, waving their arms and shouting to the coconuts to defend violently their father land against the invaders. The Pora Pora warriors deceived by what appeared to be a force much superior to their own, turned back, and retreated to their own island.

“Mahaena”.

The island of Bora Bora, one of the Leeward Group of the Society Islands.