A VANISHING PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH SEAS 



281 



Drawn by R. M. Parker 

 SKETCH MAP OP THK SOUTH PACIFIC ARCHIPELAGOES, INCLUDING THE MARQUESAS 

 GROUT I NOTE TllE LOCATION OP YAP AMONG THE CAROLINE ISLANDS 



The brief visit of Mendana and his 

 fleet had at best — or worst — a transitory 

 effect upon these savages. There is an 

 interesting tradition, still believed by the 

 Hanavavans, that a number of Men- 

 dana's crew, enraptured by the physical 

 pulchritude of the native women, de- 

 serted their ships, enacted a South Sea 

 rape of the Sabines, braved the wrath of 

 the cannibal warriors, and, taking with 

 them a score or more of the most at- 

 tractive maidens, fled over the mountain 

 to an inland valley, where they lived hap- 

 pily ever after. 



The story goes that from this adven- 

 ture sprang a tribe of beautiful red- 

 haired women and fierce warriors, who 



for generations raided the bay villages of 

 Hanavave and Omoo when they came 

 from their inland fastness for salt water, 

 there being no salt deposits on the island. 



Of the existence of such a village there 

 is no proof : but in Hanavave and no- 

 where else in the islands I saw several 

 women and boys with a wealth of rich 

 auburn hair. In appearance otherwise 

 they were full-blooded Marquesans. Of 

 their descent, whether from the inland 

 village or a less romantic source, thev 

 had no knowledge and evinced typical 

 Marquesan indifference. 



Aside from this single instance, if even 

 it be true, the Spaniards left no mark on 

 the few bays they visited. It was the ad- 



