Letters

The Wahlroos defence ORDINARILY an author does not question a review of his work. But when the evaluation is not only eminently unfair and inaccurate, but also uninformed and misleading, an ex ception must be made.

In Norman Douglas’ review of my book Mutiny and Romance in the South Seas: A Companion to the Boun ty Adventure (P/M, January 1990) he accuses me of mentioning “trivia” in

the companion (encyclopaedia) section

of my book; yet he concerns himself only with minutiae such as an inconsis tent spelling of Nadi and Lakemba.

Douglas questions my scholarship

(which is based on lifelong research), yet he is unable to point to one single inaccuracy of history or fact. He ridi cules my psychological evaluation of the relationship between Bligh and Christ ian, yet he is unable to come up with a

convincing explanation of the mutiny.

Douglas is inconsistent. After criticis ing the inclusion of “trivia” in my book, he says that “the value (of my section on Tahitian history) is reduced” by the omission of two Australian films which he claims were partly made on Tahiti.

Not only is Douglas inconsistent, he is misinformed. The 1916 silent movie was filmed in Rotorua and on Norfolk and does not belong in a section on I ahitian history. The 1932 Chauvel film was partly shot on Tahiti, but the Polynesian extras were Tongans.

Douglas ridicules my statement that the Fijians consider Bligh the principal European discoverer of Fiji and he smugly asks: “Which Fijians did Dr Wahlroos consult?” The answer is: the Government of Fiji which, on the occa sion of the 150th anniversary of Bligh’s death, issued a commemorative stamp describing him as the principal dis coverer of Fiji.

I welcome criticism of my book, but the petty and uninformed review by Mr Douglas does not do him credit. It is also so unappreciative of romance and adventure and humour that I fear its author would never understand the true meaning of. Huzzah for Otaheite!

Sven Wahlroos, Phd

California

Penpals

Martha Lisa Utia,lB. She wants to cor respond with “anyone from anywhere”.

Martha likes music, collecting stamps,

travelling, cooking, socialising. She wants

photos of those who write to her.

Address: Depot 4,Arorangi, Rarotonga,

Cook Islands.

Ricky Lee, 38. He wants penpals “from anywhere”. Address:PO Box 163, Vani mo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.

Fiji constitution I REFER to an article (Fijians get the numbers) in the October 1989 issue of PIM. Let us suppose the final approved new constitution for Fiji comes out essentially as stated in the report with a House of Representatives composed of 27 Indians and 37 Fijians among others.

Would a Fijian get a Fijian ballot and an Indian an Indian ballot in an election?

Supposing a particular individual Fi jian believed he personally would be bet ter represented by a local Indian candi date in an election, how could that Fijian vote for the Indian candidate? Whom does the daughter or son of a Fijian mother (father) and an Indian father (mother) vote for? An Indian or a Fijian candidate. Etc, etc.

For how many generations would such a constitution make any sense? Because, over a sufficiently long period of time, even with legal or other impediments, the gene pool would eventually become completely mingled so that one could not tell who was Fijian and who was In dian, or who was whatever.

Robert Silberstorf

Medellin, Colombia Elizabeth Cook GRAEME Orr’s article (February PIM) about Elizabeth Cook is strangely lacking in any mention of most Australia’s only source of information on her. I refer of course to the recent television documentary series on her husband.

The series showed the Cooks being granted a grace and favour residence be side the Greenwich Naval College and Observatory. If I remember rightly I think that was said to be after his first voyage.

If that was pure fiction I would expect Graeme Orr at least to mention it, to deny its veracity. However I would sug gest he makes a trip to the Maritime Museum in Greenwich and watch some television replays of that series of James Cook before submitting what I consider is a necessary follow-up on his wife.

John Allan

Adelaide.

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