New Hebrides Afternoon

New Hebrides offers Tanna and Malekula in its drive for visitors

From a Vila correspondent Despite the news that a luxury resort will go up three miles out of Vila, the capital of the New Hebrides, tourists who take light-plane “safari” tours to two of the Condominium’s outer islands—Tanna and Malekula—will be rewarded by seeing much more of the volcanic, tropical colour and primitive, “real” island life this interesting group has to offer.

Most visitors to the New Hebrides, they on cruise ships or on short povers on aircraft, only see tnpses of Vila or maybe Santo, ich is perhaps a shame because re is lots more to this relatively discovered group of rich, volcanic mds. The Chamber of Commerce naking a strong bid to attract over s visitors. rhe local airline, Air Melanesia, ;rates five one-hour flights a week m Vila to Tanna, where the big at is to climb the volcano Yasur. sur hasn’t erupted since 1878, but is currently very active, with the nes at its mouth visible to ships ny miles off the island at night, fasur is a two-hour drive from ana’s airstrip through lush, prolific etation very characteristic of the v Hebrides, which has some of richest volcanic soils in the world, luge creepers climb hundreds of : in the air on top of massive trees agside big avenues of mango :S. it Yasur, the adventurous can ab the volcano and watch the boil lava from the crater’s edge—a it not equalled in too many other ;es in the world. Yasur’s activity es, and sometimes it is more in ic, with spectacular flames leaping ards the sky. Obviously, the dacle is double value at night, or visitors on “safari” tours, an might stay is arranged on Epaul ch, Tanna, by Coral-Tours of i. Accommodation is provided in e Melanesian-style bungalows for to six people. ive additional bungalows will be t later this year. o reach Malekula, the traditional iping ground of the Big Nambas, ors must take another Air Mel ;ia plane out of Vila and fly north, 'ere the hour’s flight, at low alti ‘S, includes sights of dozens of

tiny islands and the rugged mountain ridges of Malekula which still hide today some of the most inaccessible villages of the South Seas.

Malekula’s airstrip, Norsup, on the north-east coast of the chop shaped island, boasts a cluster of concrete buildings.

You march inland

To contact the Big Nambas and re turn to Norsup, visitors must make four-hour marches each day for the next four days (it’s all part of the organised tour).

Malekula’s road ends close to Norsup and visitors must then take a little path via a plantation and then enter the jungle through beaten paths.

Here, the jungle growth again is pro lific, with creepers, vines and flowers clinging to every tree.

First night stop is at the village of Ounmet, near the western coast.

Visitors sleep in the local school

house and eat food cooked at open air fires.

Next day, after a similar walk, the villages of the Big Nambas are reached. Visitors stay in a small bungalow near the Nambas’ dancing ground.

The primitive Nambas males wear nothing but a few coconut fibres and their wives a grass skirt and a large purple headdress (see PIM, Apr., p. 46), They were cannibals only a few years ago.

Namba houses are built behind stockades and the house roofs are thickly thatched for protection against enemy arrows. There are neither doors nor windows, just a tiny hole to crawl through.

Inside, the Nambas’ few possessions are kept—baskets of plaited leaves, tortoiseshell earrings and skulls of ancestors tucked away respectfully in separate baskets.

After their stay, visitors make the two-day return walk to Norsup and then fly back to Vila.

All in all, for tourists who want to see some of the real South Seas, and don’t mind if Hilton-style accom modation isn’t available, Tanna and Malekula in the New Hebrides are worth investigating.

travel

A Regular Rim Department

Reporting News Of South

Seas Tourism And Travel

From The Inside.

Opposite, Top:

White sands, blue sky and an afternoon stroll along a beach near Vila. Below, the attractive view from the spot where Vila's new Hotel du Lagon, is rising. It will have 90 rooms.

At right, an Air Melanesia Drover lands visitors on the ash plain at Tanna, with Yasur volcano in the background.

Photos: Claude Mit ride and Reece Dis combe.