The Spear Of Kanune

IN the famous funeral cave in Mangaia. called Piri-te-Ume-Ume, is preserved a heathen weapon of great renown, the Spear of Kanune.

Kanune was Mangaia’s “Goliath” of heathen times. He is said to have been 8 feet tall; the spear is over 20 feet long, and resembles an ebony curtain rod. To its use in tribal war a grisly legend attaches. The Titan was wont to spear the foe, like spitted fish, six at a time! Then, resting the butt of the pike on the ground, Kanune would use leverage and his own giant muscles to swing the spitted fish into the air, the great spear then becoming a sort of standard or rallying-point for his side.

Tradition declares that this frightful sight generally panicked the foe.

While doing the gory deed. Goliath could not pay much attention to his own safety; so a bodyguard of picked war riors supported him against rear attack, and also kept a watch for javelin thrown from a distance.

Kanune was killed' at last, like Or lando the Furious, and his guard with him. —EC, Mangaia.

Two American yachts, which have been holidaying in Tahiti, the “Island Girl,” and the “Karl Chriss,” have departed on their return voyages to the United States.

They will travel via the Marquesas Is lands and Hawaii.

The Administrator of Nauru, Mr. M.

Ridgway, was in Australia during Sep tember for discussions on island matters with the External Territories Department in Canberra. Mrs. Ridgway accom panied him.

Mr. Duncan Campbell has sold his shipbuilding business at Kinaro, near Samarai, Eastern Papua, and has settled down in Cairns, North Queensland.