New Caledonian

Oddities

A New Caledonia tribe has a peculiar custom at the departure of any noted visitor. As the visitor is paddled across the river a young woman climbs to the top of a high tree and jumps into the water. Here is one farewell gesture—on the way down. Lower photograph shows an unusual coral formation, “The Flower Basket”, on the Yate reef, which will soon figure in full colour on a New Caledonian stamp. The top growth is pandanus. The formation suggests different figures, depend ing on the angle it is viewed from.

Here, it could easily be a trumpet ing elephant.—Photos: Fred Dunn.