Trans-Pacific Trip

‘Yankee’ On Sixth

Revisiting Old Islands Friends

Commander Irving M. John son’s famous brigantine-yacht Yankee is noic completing her sixth crossing of the Pacific Ocean, as part of her sixth voyage around the world. She has a crew of 21. She was in the New Hebrides in May. On May 4, when the Yankee was between Rotuma and the New Hebrides, Mrs. Electa Johnson ivrote to the PIM as follows: WE sailed from Gloucester, Mass, (north of Boston) on No vember 1, 1953: stopped at Haiti and Grand Cayman (in the "West Indies) and then went through the Panama Canal.

We spent three weeks again in the Galapagos Islands, which proved as fascinating as ever. I wish you carried Galapagos news, too, as the remarkable people who live there are something to follow with in terest.

At Pitcairn

This time we did not go to Easter, but on to Pitcairn, which we en joyed more than ever. Their pre sent school teacher, Mr. George Allen, is doing a splendid job and the whole island benefits from his presence. The one or two outsiders there can do good or harm all out of proportion to their numbers.

The SDA missionary, Pastory N. A.

Ferris and Mrs. Allen contribute also to the welfare of the island.

The Ferrises were many years in the Solomons and my husband found Pastor Ferris a most con genial sea-going missionary.

The Yankee made a trip to Henderson Island (near Pitcairn) with about 35 Pitcairners aboard, men and women, to get the miro wood which they use for their boat frames, curios and furniture.

As the PIM related, the islanders attempted the voyage last year in their long boats; but one boat sank in heavy seas and the expedition returned to Pitcairn, fortunately without loss of life.

To make the trip to windward in the Yankee, it was out of the question to tow one of the 37-ft

long boats, so my husband man aged to hoist it aboard and lash it athwartships, where it projected 8 feet over the bulwarks on either side. It made the trip successfully, however, and did the work between ship and shore, and came back under tow with a fair wind. The Pitcairners were chopping wood as soon as they touched the beach, and brought back over 30 tons.

They see passing steamers on the Panama-NZ run quite frequently these days, and always go out to sell their baskets and wood carvings on board. Soon after the Yankee’s visit they were expecting the Caronia, £he first luxury-cruise ship ever to call at Pitcairn; and I understand they had a fine day for the Caronia’s visit and made a fine

Ferris, is also a great help to the island, not only spiritually, but for his medical work and for his under standing of their social needs and his organisation of young people’s groups and community affairs. Mrs.

impression on the tourists, as well as selling them many curios. The fine impression is well warranted, as the Pitcairners are fine people.

Only 140 On Rapa

Our next stop was Rapa, where we found the population down to only 140. The old ratio of 7 women to 1 man is no more, for women as well as men seem to have left the island. M. d’Assignies, from Papeete, was radio operator and meteorologist at Rapa, the only European on the island.

We called at Rurutu, which has more frequent ships from Tahiti than we expected—more than one a month as a rule.

“Eappy Island’S” Queer

Sharks

Our present crew is more keen about spear fishing than any previ ous ones, and bought some of the very desirable French underwater gear in Papeete: so we spent quite a while among the northern Tuamotus where underwater sport is so good.

I think the Tuamotuans are about the most friendly people in the Pacific. Incidentally, Bengt Danielsson’s book, Raroia, the Happy Island, gives an excellent picture of Tuamotuan life.

We were especially interested in some strange sharks we saw at Manihi. The islanders have a small pool, just back from the sea-wall, where ships tie up, and as we came in we had observed four or five big sharks swimming around in the pool, as well as a couple of turtles.

We were horrified when we saw some of the children jump into the pool and play among the sharks.

But the fish are toothless —by nature, not by extraction.

The Manihi people called them rohoi and said they are fairly numerous there and not unknown around Tahiti; but they were new to all of us. They have sort of sucking devices in their mouths, but no teeth, and grow to large size.

Apparently the islanders always keep some in this pool just for the in terest of outsiders. We would cer tainly be interested to know more about these sharks.

Salvage At Canton

From there we went way north to Honolulu, and then south again to Canton.

A salvage company is there work ing on the President Taylor, with the personnel, including families, living aboard a former yacht, the Caronia. The Pan American people were most hospitable. New Zea landers, Fijians, and Gilbertese work for the airlines there, all very harmoniously, and the British Gov ernment is represented by Major Douglas Fregard (and his wife) whom we knew three years ago in the New Hebrides.

Pago Pago: Fish

We had hoped to !see the April

17 Flag-Raising Day celebration in Pago Pago again, but this year it was moved up to the 23rd, and we did not wait. We were distressed to hear of the rapid turn-over of governors, as we would like to be proud of a good American job there.

The Samoans miss many of the benefits of the Navy administration, but are standing on their own feet more under this regime.

We saw 7 some of the Japanese fishing boats there which supply fish to the cannery at Pago Pago, now being run by the Van Camp Company, who put out “Chicken of the Sea” brand. The Japanese are getting fish out of the ocean where no one ever got fish before; and. as Van Camp’s want only white meat tuna, dark meat and marlin are plentiful in Pago Pago and for once the Samoans have all the fish they can eat. The Japanese and Samoans seem to get on well to gether, and we found no cause for complaint as our ships lay there together.

Rivals In Beauty

This crew found Upolu (Western Samoa) as beautiful as we had told them it would be. Many villages are a lovely picture.

Then, just the other day, we all agreed that Rotuma was one of the most beautiful spots we had seen and the people handsome and friendly. The D. 0.. a Rotuman

ft > F especially S cordiaf SS S ’ tamP We had lonk . in . ViOn™ didn’t stav £ Vw 2 ld d n 2 aa having an epidemic of BP^store 0 thel'^^hpqp I '^ iS - n ?

Roland?* th these days ’ Just For one last item I might add that Father Griffon of the Catholic Mission on Rotuma, is just leaving, after 40 years (with few absences) on the island. (The Johnsons’ two sons, Arthur, 18> and Robert - 15, are sailing with the Yankee aS far aS Ind °-China,

?** Arthur has a°“as“ Mate> and handled the Yankee twice ln a blow, while his father was ashore.) ord y to discuss important matters (some involving taxation) arising out of the report of the Fiji Fiscal Review Committee, the Financial Secretary of Fiji (Mr.

H. W. Davidson) in May paid a fly ing visit to London for talks with the Colonial Office.