They Jump From

Bc Films The Land Divers

Of Pentecost

They Jump From Seventy Foot Towers

Vhe famous “land divers” of Mecost Island, in the New c orides have been filmed by the television unit which recently Med the South Pacific. Thus what as on there is going to get a, much i'.er audience than in the past. c» New Hebrides Condominium Vtish “Newsletter”, an excellent U newsy monthly publication, scribed the BBC visit this way: IBOUT 400 yards inland from Martelli Bay, a clearing had been prepared for the ceremony, a steep slope. All undergrowth Ji been removed and the earth ;r up to soften the fall of those aping. At the top of the slope, a f er of poles lashed together with [igle vines had been constructed, e scaffolding, round a tree trunk jich had been bared of its inches. This tower was about 70 in height. detruding from it at various =els from about 30 ft upwards, ■:e 21 platforms lashed ingeniously a structure so that each cracked ;en a jumper landed after his dive :m it. A pair of pliant corkscrew ,iped vines, which reached down Eabout 8 ft from the ground where -sloped sharply away, hung from [,h “diving board”.

“Don't Be Afraid" 7he ceremony started with the iival of about 40 people, includ some women and boys, on the celled pieces of ground behind and ove the tower.

Phis group began to chant a iditional composition intended to courage the divers not to be laid of plunging earthwards from heights; as they chanted, the o ranks of the group stamped a v paces to one side, turned, and imped back again. Some of the icers carried carved clubs, others re leaves or a flower in their hair, rhe rather mournful sound of the ant filled the clearing during lost the whole of the early part the day.

Presently, one of the dancers :nbed to the lowest platform. The anting continued while the lower Is of the vines attached to the itform were hauled up and at ;hed firmly to his ankles. He then iod dramatically erect, face lifted vards the sky, and stretching his ms outwards and upwards, clapped ; hands several times above his ad.

(Continued on page 99)

He tempo of the chanting in wed and shrill cries seemed to !» spontaneously from some of i group behind the tower. The ■* cast away a sprig of leaves his right hand and plunged n to earth. his head appeared to be near dthe ground, the vines took up strain and his fall was arrested ire his head could reach the soft weral helpers then cut him free . the vines, and he walked off f nothing had happened.

Liroughout the morning, divers ;; forward, mounted the tower, one to yet a higher board, and =ged to earth while their friends iuraged them with their chants. me of those making their first

cd looked rather apprehensive

waited while they plucked up cage. One older man, certainly 50, dived with such obvious [;ht from about 60 ft, that it was •• he had frequently done so Te. Another, and younger, man, « soaring down, his legs work cas if he were riding a bicycle. orely did one of the vines break, then only at the last moment, re the diver reached the ground, tme seemed a little dazed after •r toppling descent, and it is re >kable that their legs were not !ged out of their sockets. . . . highest jump was made from Ilatform over 60 ft from the i.nd.