Nassau Island

Puka-Pukans Would Like Nassau Island Claim Based on Ancient Polynesian History From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga. Feb. 25.

THE small island of Nassau (central Pacific, not Bahamas) is at present under discussion in Wellington, NZ There is a possibility that Nassau, at present uninhabited, may be made avail able to the natives of Puka-Puka who claim ancient rights.

Situated 45 miles SE by S of Puka- Puka, in the Cook Group, Nassau is a flat, oval island with some swamps in the centre and a fringing reef. The water is deep close in to the reef and there is no anchorage.

The island was named after a New Bedford whaler which called in 1835, but other whalers had visited it previously.

Some authorities believe it to be the Peregrin© sighted by Quiros in 1606. The whalers found the island uninhabited as did the Rev. W. W. Gill of the LMS when he visited it in 1862.

Gill found only one coconut tree growing on the island and he planted several more.

When the ‘John Williams’ called again in 1875 the captain planted another 100 coco nuts. On a later visit in 1881, Gill found an American sea captain in possession.

This first Eui'opean settler had planted 14,000 coconuts, also taro, kumeras, bananas and breadfruit round the verges of the swamps. He had imported n number of Puka-Pukans as labourers.

The island was annexed by Great Britain in 1892 and later placed under control of the Cook Islands Administration. Prom 1916 onwards the copra was worked by various companies with headquarters in Samoa. The last lessee was Capt. Williams of Samoa who went to Nassau in 1938 taking 30 Tokelau islanders as labourers.

A man of considerable energy, Capt.

Williams built a comfortable home for his wife and children who accompanied him and put'the-plantations in excellent order.

At the outbreak of the Pacific war Capt. Williams and his party were left on the island as coast-watchers. These were removed in 1945, since when the island has once more been uninhabited.

That is a brief outline of the European history of Nassau. But there is an earlier history connected with the inhabitants of neighbouring Puka-Puka.

There is no doubt that the island was inhabited by the Puka-Pukans in early times and there was intercourse between the two islands up till the time when long distance canoe travel ceased to be a habit. Old Puka-Pukan graves dis covered on Nassau are evidence of earlier occupation.

The olq Puka-Pukan name for Nassau as Te Nuku-O-Ngalewu, named so after a famous warrior chief who defended the island against invasion by a fleet from Aitutaki. The leader of the Aitutakians was named Tima or Tema, and the dan gerous submerged coral reef on a direct line between Nassau and Puka-Puka was named after him. Puka-Pukan history tells that communication between the islands ceased “at the time when the great conflict between the gods made sea travel dangerous”—probably a cycle of frequent hurricanes.

On its abandonment the island received the new name of Te Motu-ngaongao (Deserted Island).

IN August 1946 the Resident Commis sioner of Rarotonga, Mr. W. Tailby, visited Puka-Puka and discussed with the chiefs in council their requests for the use of Nassau. In substantiation of their claims many interesting quotations were made from history and legends and old men sang “Pe-e,” or chants referring to Nassau.

After leaving Puka-Puka the Commis sioner made an inspection of Nassau, making notes for a report to the govern ment.

At the present time Nassau is fully planted with coconut trees, mostly in good condition; but, with several years’ neglect, self-sown coconuts and other vegetation have made a tangled jungle among the palms. With the present de mand and price for copra the crop would be valuable, once the plantations had been cleaned up.

From the economic point of view the Puka-Pukans are over-crowded on their own small island. There have been serious food shortages during recent years owing to hurricanes. Only a limited quantity of copra can be shipped to raise money for their few reeds, because coconuts are their staple food.

The transfer of part of their population to Nassau would be a godsend to the Puka-Pukans. This nearby island has food in plenty—taro, kumeras, bananas, and breadfruit can be planted round the swamps. Pigs and fowls, descendants of former domestic stock, run wild in the bush and would provide stock for new herds. Fish are plentiful around the reefs.

It would be a little paradise for the Puka-Pukans. Tney deserve to get it back. After all “they saw it first!”