This comprehensive travel guide includes the geography, history, archaeology, and natural history of the Marquesas Islands, a part of French Polynesia. There are color photos and maps of the inhabited islands, major towns and important archaeological sites. Color photos and drawings of the common plants, birds, marine mammals, fish and marine shells illustrate the natural history section. A bibliography and short course on speaking Marquesan are included.
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On Ancient Culture: Explorers' accounts of the stone remains and primitive ancient culture of the Marquesas have intrigued western man since the islands were first discovered. Scientists and artists on early voyages produced impressive studies during their short stays, but it was not until the late 19th century that detailed ethnographic and archaeological work began in the Marquesas The fascinating story these scientists have pieced together begins long ago and far away from the Marquesas Islands. The tale starts on the coasts of southern Asia where a few bold navigators challenged the vast Pacific, having only stars, wind, waves and birds to guide them across the open ocean.
On Nuku Hiva: Nuku Hiva is the largest island in the Marquesas. It measures 11.5 miles by 9 miles (19 km x 15 km) at its widest and longest points. The island is formed from an ancient volcano in which a more recent cone formed. The southern portion of both cones have eroded, leaving that coast with high, wave- washed cliffs and deep bays, each more majestic or mysterious than the other A marshy plateau, Toovii, rises to 2,600 feet (800 m) in the center of the island. The Toovii Plateau is the source of the major rivers and waterfalls of Nuku Hiva. The most notable is Vaipo (Ahuei) which cascades 1,150 feet (350 m), ranking it among the highest falls in the southern hemisphere.
On Flora: Breadfruit or mei (Artocarpus communis)is an important starch staple of the Marquesas. Introduced by early Polynesian migrants, breadfruit trees flourished in the warm, humid Marquesan climateThe tree grows to 60 feet tall and bears luxuriant, deep green, pinnately-cut leaves. Trees begin to bear pale green, spherical, rough-textured fruit at five to seven years of age, and generally two crops of fruit with pale yellow pulp mature during the year. Fruit from a breadfruit tree can feed a person for a whole year, and a tree is planted for each child at birth to insure that they never go hungryThe fruit can be baked, boiled, roasted, fired, preserved by fermentation and pounded into popoi and kaakuIn ancient times, breadfruit was placed in funnel-shaped pits lined with banana and ti leaves. A young man, selected for his virginity, would mash the mei with his feet before the fruit was left to ferment into ma.
On the Marine Environment: The abundant marine resources of the great ocean surrounding the Marquesas were a primary factor in the survival of the early Polynesian settlers. From the sea, the islanders drew much of their food--fishes, crustaceans and shellfish--and the raw materials for making fishing hooks, lures, tools, containers, needles, buttons, decorative adornments and musical instruments. Their lives were and still are inexorably bound by the effects of the tides, moon phases, tradewinds and seasons on the marine environment.
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