A Legend That's

Become Big Business

A man who has photographed the weird native jumpers of the New Hebrides presents this fresh angle on how civilisation—in the form of the world’s movie moguls—is affecting them.

By Freddy Drilhon

First made public to the world in 1952 in a series of photographs, the Gaul dancers and jumpers of Pentecost Island, in the New Hebrides, have been unable to resist commercial temptations offered them by the film industry.

Their once unique and jealously preserved performance bids fair to become a regular tourist attraction for which big money is asked —and given.

r:E dance of the Gaul, in the course of which the men throw themselves down from a high tower (in some cases from a height of more than 80 feet), was until recent years a somewhat rare event, taking place no more often than once every five years.

Even though the event was some times talked about outside, yet no white man had, in fact, ever been a spectator of this tribal feat prior to 1952, when the British and French Resident Commissioners were invited to view it They happened to be on the spot fixing

up peace between two tribes thai had been at war.

Now, the story or legend of hov the Gaul dance began has beconu more familiar. It goes back tc the time when a man nameo Tamalie of the Bongwulwul tribu forcibly carried off a woman. Thij woman, apparently an unwilling victim, seized her opportunity U escape from his clutches and swam up a coconut palm.

Tamalie climbed up after ano tried to grab her. But the woman had the bright idea of trying s long vine stem to her ankle, ano when he got near she jumped to earth; because of the vine stern anchor she pulled up without injury.

Tamalie, lacking any vine anchor to his limb, sprang after her ano was killed.

Legend Perpetuated

The Gaul of the Bongwulwul to day perpetuate this remarkable legend. They build a high tower from which men jump, while or the ground below the woman sing and dance. The honour of jumping from the highest platforms of the curious edifice goes to the mer highest in rank, while the crowning' vertiginous jump with which the fete ends, is made by the biggest chief of all, who gains great kudos thereby.

Contrary to what one might expect, nobody gets killed.

The jumpers, it is perhaps necessary to explain, are attached to whichever platform they jump from by supple vines of the requisite length attached to their ankles.

These vines stretch rather like an enormous length of elastic; they act as a brake and lessen the force of the fall just as the man’s body is about to make contact with the ground. The soil the performers fall on is prepared in advance and free from stones.

Enter the Film Makers

Such a spectacular event, once mooted abroad, could hardly fail toe attract the attention of the filmi makers. The first to arrive on the scene were representatives of am Italian film concern.

But they met with some reticence on the part of the dancers, whoe considered their performance not as* a spectacle for outsiders but as aj tribal tradition.

The Italians came to them withi an offer of 50,000 francs, then put; it up to 100,000 —only to meet withj a blank refusal. So it went on,, until a session was agreed to on payment of 400,000 francs, or rather,. their equivalent in Australian. pounds. [That is about £A2,850, if Pacific : francs are meant; about £A44O, if; the deal was in equivalent of ! metropolitan francs. PIM Ed.] Hitherto the Bongwulwul of;

vines around his ankles, this dancer hurtles awards the ground after taking his wild jump off the uppermost platform.