of Neiafu,
pp. 43-44 · Read in the full issue
The five best walks of Neiafu, Vavau
A Walking Tour of Neiafu, Vavau. By Pesi and Mary Fonua. Published by Vavau Press. Box 83. Neiafu. Vavau. 5A2.15, or SA3 posted airmail within the Pacific.
A type of literature that’s been lacking in the South Seas until recently is the small, cheap but authoritative booklet dealing with a particular locality. Com prehensive works such as the Handbook of Papua New Guinea or Handbook of Fiji are well established, but the visitor wanting to spend a day or two in one picturesque or historic lo cality can rarely get in such works the detailed knowledge of paths, byways, landmarks and legends that is available on the spot if he manages to locate
the right people and which will make his visit more memor able.
Vavau, in Tonga’s northern group, is now a regular port of call for some of the cruise ships, and it can be reached by air from Nukualofa, so the small, 48-page booklet by Peri and Mary Fonua is both welcome and timely. Cruise passengers should find the time to carry out at least one of the five walks described lasting from one to two-and-a-half hours, especially as they have been broken into segments of only 10 minutes or so. But, if not, the booklet is a readable collection of legend and fact which probably will be of as much interest to the locals as to visitors. Much of the information comes from oral history. The publication co incides with the bicentenary of the arrival of the Spaniard Mourell at Vavau, the harbour of which he named Port of Refuge.
Vavau Press is a new imprint, launched by the Fonuas. The booklet was printed in Nukualofa at the Government
Printing Office.
S.I.