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==== Background Information ==== | ==== Background Information ==== | ||
Marquesas Islands <br>These islands are known in Polynesian legends of the Maori, Hawaiians, Rarotongans, and Easter Islanders as the Sacred Land of Hava`iki, from whence their ancestors came. They lie ten degrees south of the equator, are 4,000 miles west of Peru, and are the northernmost of French Polynesia. Population is about 1,800 people, most of them living on Hiva Oa. | |||
The Marquesan language is the ancestor of modern Polynesian languages. Tahitian and Hawaiian are dialects of ancient Marquesan. Though 1,200 miles further away than Tahiti, the Hawaiian language more nearly parallels Marquesan than Tahitian. It is also similar to Mangarevan (Gambier Islands) and Rarotongan (Cook Island) languages. | |||
Mendana (southeast) group: Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Mohotani, Rouatoua, and Fatu Huka. Washington (northwest) group: Nuku hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Ituka, Eiao, Hiao, Hatutu,, and Motu-Oa. | |||
Historical background <br>1595 Spaniard Mendana de Neyra and Quiros discovered the southeastern group of the Marquesas.<br>1791 Englishman Marchand Ingraham discovers the northern Marquesas<br>1792 Whalers visit the Marquesas<br>1837 Englishman Pritchard is appointed consul to the Marquesas.<br>1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas. <br>1840 Pritchard leaves for England to ask for British protection.<br>1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva. <br>Islanders kill 26 Frenchmen in Tabuate, Marquesas.<br>1843 The French protectorate of the islands is acknowledged by Britain, in spite of Pritchard’s return.<br>1849-50 French troops withdraw from the Marquesas.<br>1860 War begins in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas,<br>Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin.<br>1863 Former slaves, returned from Peru, bring small pox to the Marquesas.<br>There is a rapid depopulation, due to smallpox, drunkenness, human sacrifice, cannibalism, warfare, and prostitution.<br>1881 France establishes a civil administration in the Marquesas.<br>1914 German raiders are shelled at Papeete and exiled to the Marquesas.<br>1961 Taiohae is chosen as the site of the vicariate of the Marquesas. | |||
Tuamotu (Low and Dangerous) Archipelago<br>Composed of 80 coral atolls, of which 50 are inhabited, the name means Islands Under the Clouds. Once heavily populated, the population is now only about 5,200 because people moved to better jobs. | |||
The islands include: Ahe, Manihi, Takaroa, Tepoto, Napuka, Mataiva, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Takapoto, Tikei, Puka Puka, Arutua, Aaptaki, Aratika, Makatea, Kaukura, Toau, Kauehi, Takume, Fangatau, Fakahina, Niau, Raraka, Taenga, Raroia, Fakarava, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Makemo, Nihiru, Rekareka, Faaite, Tepoto, Marutea Nord, Tahanea, Motutunga, Tekokota, Tauere, Anaa, Haraiki, Hikueru, Amanu, Reitoru, Marokau, Hao, Ravahere, Akiaki, Pukarua, Negonego, Paraoa, Vahitahi, Reao, Manuhangi, Vairaatea, Nukutavake, Pinaki, Hereheretue, Ahunui, Anuanuraro, Anuanurunga, Nukutepipi, Vanavana, Tureia, Vahanga, Tenararo, Tenarunga, Marutea Sud, Matureivavao, Mururoa, Tematagi, Fangataufa, Maria, and Morane | |||
Historical background <br>1543 Magellan’s Portugese fleet discovers Puka Puka, northeast Tuamotu<br>1616 Dutchmen Jacob Le Maire and Willem Scheuten reached Puka Puka, Takaroa, Takapoto, Manihi, and Rangiroa, all of the Tuamotu islands.<br>1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards.<br>1765 Englishman John Byron reached Tepoto, Napuka, Takeroe, Takapoto, and Rangirao.<br>1767 Englishman Samuel Wallis charted and claimed the islands for Britain.<br>1768 The French claim the islands.<br>1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central Tuamotu islands. His wife, Tetua, dies.<br>1826 Tahitians who will not accept the Mamaia religion flee to the Tuamotos.<br>1831 Uprising of chiefs against Pomare Vahine IV, who is forced to condemn the Mamaia sect.<br>1833 First Catholic Vicar Apostolic in the islands.<br>Defeat of the chiefs of the Taiarapu (supported by the Mamaia sect) heralds its decline.<br>1841 Last members of the Mamaia sect die because they refused vaccination.<br>1842 Establishment of a French protectorate on Tahiti.<br>1845 Mormon missionary Grouard has great success on the island of Anaa. <br>1852 Catholic persecution of Mormons on Anaa. They are forced to flee, die, or attend the Catholic Church.<br>1860 Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin.<br>1862 Slave traders captured in the Tuamotus.<br>1903 Hurricane in Tuamotu. <br>1905 Phosphates discovered in Makatea, Tuamotu.<br>1908 Leprosy spread to the eastern Tuamotu islands.<br>1918 Flu epidemic kills 20 percent of the population. <br>Phosphates are exploited in Makaeta, Tuamotu. | |||
Gambier Islands or Mangareva <br>These atolls have a population of about 6,500 people. Whaling ships stopped here in the 19th century. One of the last strongholds of cannibalism, overzealous missionaries worked the population to death. The majority are Protestant. LDS Missionaries have begun to work here. | |||
They are: Mangareva (Pearl), Taravai (Belcher), Temoe, Aukena (Elson), and Akamaru (Wainwright) | |||
Historical background <br>1823 Frederick Beechey enters the lagoon of the Gambier islands. <br>1834 A Catholic mission is begun in the Gambier islands.<br>1841 Hurricane in the Gambier islands. <br> | |||