Cargo—Of “Galorious” Booze

Buka’S Cargo Cultists Get A

For more than 20 years, some of the people of the northern part of Buka Island, Bougainville, have been a problem to the P-NG Adminis tration and to missionaries.

The trouble is that, besides having independent minds, these is landers are cargo cultists—believers in local prophets who promise them such things as free food, free drink, unlimited sensual pleasures, and no work.

Now, judging from reports that reached Rabaul early in March, some of the prophesies of Buka's cargo cult prophets have come true.

The reports say that after the 303-ton trading vessel “Karu” ran aground off Buka on January 24, part of her cargo, consisting of beer and spirits, was taken ashore and stacked on the beach to await shipment back to Rabaul.

Later, it mysteriously disappeared, and when a police officer was sent to investigate, he got very small change from the Buka Islanders.

His conclusion was that the liquor had either gone underground or been consumed—as in Compton Mackenzie’s “Whisky Galore".

Meanwhile, the owners of the “Karu”, G. and M. Shipping, of Rabaul, abandoned hope of refloating the vessel, and employees began removing engines and other valuable equipment.

They are presumably keeping a closer watch on this material than they did on the liquor, which was originally destined for plantations and outstations on the east coast of Bougainville.

PlM’s grapevine has not reported whether these thwarted consignees have now replenished their cellars (or whatever they stow their liquor in) from other sources, or whether they are drinking water.