phe far Away South Sea Islan
By a Missionary From French Oceania
HE coral islands that lie 100 miles east of
Tahiti are so much different in their forma
tion, vegetation and foods from the moun
tainous islands, which are covered with dense
and richly colored vegetation that one would
not think they are only a few miles apart,
but such is many times the case. These islands are
circular and oblong in shape, and are very low, being
only a few feet above high tide. Each is surrounded
by a coral reef, which is all the way from a few feet
to several rods in width, and which protects the
islands from the incessantly rolling sea. The sea
shore is lined and dotted with large boulders, while
coral gravel extends from the high tide mark to sev
eral feet inland. The islands are from three to forty
miles in length and three to twenty miles in width.
The land itself is from a few rods to a mile in width,
surrounded by the coral reef and sea. This land is
not one continuous circular or oblong strip, but is
broken here and there from the open sea through to
the lagoon, thereby forming a path for the incoming
tide to rush over the reef and sandless, craggly coral
bed to the lagoon. jpjraKljPipjg '-f‘f wirp I "
The reefs are peculiarly formed in places. Some
are low and slope down into deep water at different
angles. Others are high and are very precipitously
formed. Under this style of formation cavities are
formed, into which the sea sucks with great strength
and rapidity with the inrushing and rapidly reced
ing tide, which boils up and recedes through the many
holes in the top of the reef. This makes it very dan
gerous for an unaccustomed person to walk safely
upon the reef during high tide.
The reefs are also dangerous to those landing upon
them. One must go ashore in the ship’s boat, or in a
native’s canoe. Great care must be taken in select
ing the proper wave which carries your boat on its
crest to a safe landing on the top of the reef,
where it must then be pulled to a safe place. Many
times mistakes are made in selecting the proper wave
and the boat is capsized. This is dangerous, not only
for those who are unaccustomed to such a life, but
many times natives are killed or injured* Sometimes
they are sucked into these large cavities under the
coral ledge and are unable to get out. Others are
pounded to death by the rolling waves upon the reef.
The only safe thing to do when the boat or canoe
capsizes is to cling to it, and although one is not en
tirely safe then, he still stands a better chance to
live than the one who jumps and tries to swim ashore.
After the boat has been pulled to safety one must
walk several rods in shallow water to the shore or
be carried in the arms or upon the back of a native.
The latter is an embarrassing experience for our lady
missionaries. They are usually brave and frequently
more plucky than the men. A few years ago one of
our large lady missionaries was being carried ashore
by a native man through about two and a half feet
of water when all at once he dropped her unceremon
iously into the water. So far as I can learn it is the
first time a native has ever dropped a missionary
while carrying the passenger, ashore. To this day the
native people take delight in tantalizing their brother
because of his mishap.
me coral jsianas are uniiKe me mountainous
islands in that their land is poor and very unpro
ductive. Cocoanuts will grow well on the sandy soil,
but not so well in gravel, especially if the gravel is
coarse. In fact the cocoanut is the only staple native
food here. It will grow the sea side and still be
sweet and delicious, even more so than those grown
on the mountain sides in some islands. This is a
wonderful provision, indeed, that the Lord has made
for these poor native people. Some figs are to be
found, but they do not grow and bear well. The
papaya fruit grows well in some islands, while the
breadfruit and banana will not grow unless mountain
dirt is taken to the coral islands to fertilize the soil.
IlFish abound in the lagoons and open sea near the
reefs. Pigs and chickens are raised for commercial
and home consumption. Canned foods, especially
meats, can be purchased from the Chinese merchants
and foreign traders. Crabs, lobsters and the “mother
of pearl” are plentiful in some islands.
The islands being near the equator are very warm,
and being so low, with no mountain protection, they
are exposed to the trade winds and severe gales, also
to the severe windstorms that frequently sweep over
them.
But even in these low coral, sandy, unfertile and
isolated isles of the sea many men and women have
found God and a way to express Him in their lives.
Although their skins are dark, their customs different,
and their environment not so wholesome as ours, God
is working in and with them in fulfilling his promises
to the peoples of the earth. :