Thursday 10 April 2014

wikipedia "niuatoputapu"

Here is the wikipedia entry for "Niuatoputapu", with a couple of my own amendments:
"Geography:
The central top of Niuatoputapu, just beside Vaipoa, is a hill of only 157 meters in height. It is the eroded remnant of a large volcano, which erupted about 3 million years ago. The island is almost entirely surrounded by a large reef, uplifted and largely covered with volcanic ash, which has yielded it a fertile soil.
Niuatoputapu consists primarily of three villages: Hihifo (meaning 'west' in Tongan), Vaipoa ("fishy smell") and Falehau ("house of wind"?). Hihifo is the largest village, and, as its name suggests, lies in the west of the island. It contains the majority of the govemmental faciliies of the island, including the post office, telecommunications, police station and a high school (there are primary schools in all 3 villages). Vaipoa lies in the middle of the island. Falehau, which is east of Vaipoa, fronts on the island's only harbor, on the northeast coast.
History:
The traditional line of lords of the island is the Ma'atu dynasty. According to the legends, an early member of them became the fish god Seketo'a.
Niuatoputapu was put on the European maps by Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire during their famous circumnavigation of the globe in their ship the Eendracht (Unity) in 1616. Alter successful bartering with the inhabitants of Tafahi, but not finding a suitable anchorage there, they preceeded to its neighbour. There their reception was less peaceful. Natives boarded their ship and attacked the Dutch with clubs, until they found out what muskets were and could do. After that an uneasy truce existed, enabling the barter of more coconuts, ubes roots (probably ‘uii (yam)), hogs and water. A 'king' of the island came along, but not on board. 'He was equally naked with all the rest", only distinguishable by the respect the islanders paid to him.
The next day the Dutch felt that something was in the air, and indeed when the king came again along he suddenly ordered his people into an attack. There were about 700 to B00 of them in 23 double canoes and 45 single canoes. But the Dutch fired their muskets and 3 cannons, and the islanders then quickly made themselves scarce. Schouten and LeMaire continued their
westwards trip, leaving Verraders (Traitors) island behind.

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