How fared the modern exiles

and migrants in the Pacific?

Henry Kissinger, comment

ing upon the problems of the peoples of the American Trust Territory; once remarked, “Who gives a damn”. The 10 authors and editor of Exiles and Migrants in Oceania clearly do, even if their studies

are obscured occasionally by

the technical language of their

anthropological craft.

Unlike many such edited volumes, the co-authors of this one seem to have consulted one another prior to publication so that a good deal of cross fertilisation is evident through out the book’s 417 pages,

supplemented by 14 excellent

maps, six tables and biographi cal data on the contributors.

An 11-page Field Guide pro vides advice to future re searchers on what to look for when they study resettled com munities in the Pacific and, I suggest, elsewhere.

Movement has been a part of the South Pacific scene from

the beginning when sturdy

islanders ventured forth in canoes of wood and sinew to populate the thousands of square miles of territory that sprinkles out of southeast Asia’s peninsular underbelly.

Islands as stepping stones was not a concept of World War II vintage, but an integral part of the thinking of the prehistoric inhabitants of

those pleasant places.

The reasons for modern mi gration, also, are not so dif ferent from what must have motivated the ancient islanders. Among the 10 case studies of migration, seven was the result of some sort of natu ral disaster, such as storm or

drought, volcanic explosion or

dwindling natural resources.

Banaba, Bikini, and Rotuma are the three exceptional cases.

In the case of Banaba, Europeans wanted the rich

phosphate deposits to enrich

the cultivated fields of Aus tralia, New Zealand, Europe,

and America. While, for the people of lonely Bikini, it was the American desire for a nu clear testing place that exiled the local inhabitants from their home. Contrary to this case, were the Rotumans, who sought to exploit labour pos sibilities in Fiji and whose mi gration seems to have been

largely self-motivated.

Kissinger’s remarks were apropos the small numbers liv ing in Micronesia and were the basis for his disdain. He would be even more scornful of con cern for the small populations described in this volume. The Banabans number “about 2000” and are the largest group, while 300 to 400 is the usual number involved in these

mini-migrations.

This does not mean, how ever, that the circumstances of migration are made any easier.

Some of the stories, told in often microscopic detail, suggest that great hardship has been endured by the hapless

victims of 20th century colonialism or timeless natural disaster, as editor Lieber shows in his summary chapter.

Knudson writes about the South Gilbertese who were transplanted to isolated Phoenix Island before World War 11, only to be relocated again to the Solomons. The

community again migrated,

splitting this time over prefer ences for their imported Chris

tian religions.

Australian readers will be particularly interested in the

long piece by Erik Schwimmer,

in which he discusses the ex ecutions at Orokaiva in World War 11, a subject of much de bate in the Sydney Press re cently. Schwimmer’s article concentrates on the events sur rounding the disastrous erup tion of Mount Lamington, in Northeast Papua, in 1951, where as many as 4000 people may have perished, their lungs seared by molten volcanic ash.

Some of the migrants like

Ambrym’s Maat villagers,

seemed to have settled well in their new homes. They go back and forth between adopted and traditional home, exploiting to the full the options open to them. For the Maat villagers on Efate, their new home is one

without the traditional fear of

sorcery, though they recognise

that there is more leisure time back home on Ambrym.

The Kapinga on Ponape seem well settled and the Rotumans in Fiji are much sought-after workers in Fiji

primary industry.

Kiste’s Bikinians, who did regain their atoll for a time, must now face resettlement once again, for the level of radioactivity is too high to per mit human habitation.

Banabans, resettled on Rabi Island, are still negotiating with the British Government for a better deal on their phosphate resources.

Most of the groups, such as the Tikopians on Russell or the south-west islanders on Palau, remain as a community, seek

ing their identity as having

come from a particular place.

The exception to this are the Nukuoro on Ponape, who seem to refrain from forming com munity associations and exist as scattered families or individuals.

In this regard, the people of Nukuoro are the most success ful migrants, if we consider mi gration in its larger context.

Debates still rage in the mi grant countries of the Pacific rim, such as Australia and the United States, about how over seas migrants ought to be treated. Some take the view, as do the Nukuoro, that migrants ought to assimilate, giving up their past homeland and adopt ing their new one.

Integration, however, is the

increasingly prevalent cry and

is exemplified by most of the cases in this book. Integration means that each migrant group contributes to the formation of a new society, reflecting the different cultures of both mi grants and host.

Australian experience is that assimilation usually does not occur. Like the Maat villagers who live and work on Efate, they may take on many of the local customs; even dress and live like their hosts outwardly.

Migrants in metropolitan

countries, as on the islands, often see themselves as tem porary residents, who may return home at any time. Most often fail to appreciate this component of the migrant world view.

Readers in non-Pacific

Island countries will find that the problems of migrant com munities in Ponape have much in common with those in San Francisco or Sydney. Aside from such a self-interested motive, readers will find also the stories of the resettled mi grants and relocated exiles of intrinsic interest.

If there is anyone casting about for ideas for novels or films about the modern South Pacific, the dramatic events told in such depth and detail

here will provide ample

inspiration.

Unlike the blase former US Secretary of State, readers will find that they do give a damn.

Grant McCall

(Exiles And Migrants In Oceania. Association

(or Social Anthropology in Oceania Monograph No. 5. Edited by Michael 0. Lieber Published by The University Press of Hawaii. Honolulu. January. 1978. U 5517.50)

A must for

PNG stamp buffs

Papua New Guinea Stamps 1971-76: by Rex Lingard, is a profusely illustrated account of the country’s philatelic development over the period, which covers its accession to self-government in 1973 and independence in 1975.

The book is a must for all interested in philately in the Pacific, and clearly bears out the distinctive features of PNG’s stamp issue policies.

These are outlined in a foreword by Mr I. Edoni, secretary of the Department of Public Utilities, Post and Telecommunications Ser vices, and include: issuing sufficient stamps each year to make PNG worthy of the peo ple who collect its stamps, but not so many that the collector feels exploited; depicting only PNG subjects and topics, stay ing clear of gimmicky issues, imperforate specimens, sub jects foreign to the country and other unethical practices; and having the stamps printed by the world’s leading stamp printers.

Mr Edoni pledges that “col lectors may look to a stable, conservative stamp issue poli cy in PNG in the future”

This last claim is certainly borne out by the many fine colour reproductions of PNG stamps contained in this small book which is soon to be available from PlM’s mail order bookshop. F.L.S.

(Papua New Guinea Stamps: 1971-76.

By Rax Lingard. Publishad by Robart Brown & Associatat, Port Morosby. 1A2.25.)