Few Rennellese Leave

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From Our Own Correspondent

Honiara, Feb. 1.

FTER a recent visit to lonely Rennell Island in the British Solomon Islands, a District Commissioner re ported that the total population was now estimated at about 1,000 and the standard of health was good. The Ren nellese are Polynesians and have re mained, until recently, extraordinarily untouched by the outside world. Visits to Rennell by members of the public have been strictly controlled in the in terests of the Rennellese, who after cen turies of isolation were an easy prey to imported germs.

Comparatively few Rennellese have ever left their island homes. In the village of Kanava only 37 out of a total of 144 adult males have ever seen the world outside, and in Bagikago only 4 out of 50 have been away. Only about 25 per cent, of all adult males on the island have been away from home, and most of these only to a Mission school on Malaita. Life on the island is still fairly primitive; in 1945 stone axes were still in use.

The Rennellese now want to work out side their island. They have, however, turned down the idea, which they have had in mind over the past 12 months, of migrating permanently to some more fer tile and less remote area, with the help of the BSIP Government.

They are a striking-looking neople, tall, light-coloured, magnificently built, with straight or wavy hair. Levers tried them as labourers in the 19205, but the experi ment, like a more recent experiment with Sikaiana labour, was not a success. A few Rennellese are being trained as Govern ment hospital dressers and in the Police.