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Marine Beast Terrified the Locals in Ancient Myths
On the tropical islands of Vanuatu, the {{{people | villagers}}} have from generation to generation orally passed down the stories and traditions of their {{{culture | way of life}}}.
On the island of Ambrym, there lies a large rock in the sacred waters of the Bay of Olal. The locals {{{call | name}}} it Pouviaserole. It tells of a {{{monster| fiend}}} that once was the guardian of the bay.
The enormous beast, Pouviaserole, or Guardina, {{{was | looked}}} something between a {{{wild | untamed}}} boar and a savage dog, with {{{a large | an enormous}}} horn in the {{{middle | centre}}} of its head.
{{{Children | Kids}}} from the nearby villages would {{{come | run}}} to the beach to swim and enjoy the tepid tropical waters, {{{unaware | ignorant}}} that Pouviaserole had transformed itself into an innocent looking log on the beach.
Sometimes the children would pick up Pouviaserole and {{{fling | throw}}} the ‘log’ into the {{{ocean | sea}}} and watch it {{{drift | float}}} back to the beach. It was such fun!
{{{Suddenly | Unexpectedly}}} Pouviaserole would {{{transform | form}}} itself back into the monster it really was, and {{{consume | devour}}} some of the {{{petrified | terrified}}} {{{children | kids}}}.
Undetected the beast would {{{slink | creep}}} back into its underwater {{{lair | home}}}. Its {{{belly | stomach}}} filled with {{{kids | children}}}, it would be many months before it would once again repeat the deception.
Finally the local Chief tan of the {{{neighboring | adjacent}}} village declared the beach {{{taboo | off limits}}}. No longer were the {{{children | kids}}} allowed to visit that area of the {{{ocean | sea}}}.
When Pouviaserole finally {{{realized | found}}} that the children no longer {{{visited | came to}}} his beach, the {{{monster | ogre}}} decided to pay the village a visit. Licking its lips, at the thought of the coming {{{feast | banquet}}}, it slithered along.
When the strongest and most handsome child ran to where the log lay, Pouviaserole quickly snatched up the {{{unsuspecting | unwary}}} child. {{{Unfortunately | Sadly}}} he was the son of the {{{Chief| Chieftan}}}.
Enraged with {{{grief | sorrow}}}, the Chief finally declared {{{revenge | vengeance}}} on the {{{guardian | monster}}} of the sacred bay. He ordered the men of the village to hide themselves in the bush {{{surrounding | near by}}} the beach.
Not having satisfied its growling {{{belly | stomach}}}, the monster {{{needed | decided}}} to {{{hunt | look}}} for more food.
It had only slithered a small way out of the water when the revenging hunters were upon it. In spite of the {{{enormous | huge}}} size of the beast the men of the village {{{rushed | ran}}} forward. The first {{{spear | lance}}} pierced the monster’s eye. Another hit it in the {{{stomach | belly}}}.
Even though grievously {{{wounded | hurt}}} the beast refused to die on the beach. Slowly it slithered back into the sea, determined to {{{breathe | take}}} its last breath in the privacy of its underwater {{{lair | home}}}.
Fearing the escape of the {{{beast | monster}}}, a {{{valiant| fearless}}} warrior violently threw his spear. It planted itself in the neck of the animal.
Blood {{{stained | discoloured}}} the {{{sea | ocean}}}. The monster remained {{{immobile | motionless}}} trying to {{{protect | defend}}} itself from the arrows and spears that began to rain upon it. Pourviaserole quickly transformed itself into a rock. The monster lost its life, but gained immortality.
The {{{carnivorous | child eating}}} rock is still known as the guardian of the sacred bay and can be {{{seen today | still seen}}} in the popular adventure travel destination, Bay of Olal.
Vanuatu is rich in tales such as Pouviaserole, as can be found in the book Nabanga, an illustrated anthology of the oral {{{traditions | customs}}} of Vanuatu. Secrets of Vanuatu are slowly being {{{revealed | disclosed}}} as seen in a recent art exhibition in Australia. Art which had never before been seen outside Vanuatu and has the art world {{{agog| buzzing}}}.
While we may read these {{{anthology | collection of}}} tales with some amusement, there is an underlying tragedy in this beautiful tropical island archipelago of the Happiest Country on Earth.
Throughout Vanuatu {{{children | kids}}} miss out on {{{an education | schooling}}}. Education is not free and remains beyond the realm of most of the {{{isolated | remote}}} villagers, who live in a ‘no-cash’ economy, on under $1 per day. Paying school fees is totally beyond their meager incomes.
The {{{dire | horrendous}}} {{{consequences | results}}} of this are...
• Only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade 6
• Of those only 18.2% will go to high school
• 26% will never go to school at all.
In late 2007 the Vanuatu government admitted that it did not have the {{{resources | finances}}} to {{{provide | give}}} education beyond the main islands. Education was not seen as a priority.
You can be part of this {{{exciting | thrilling}}} Blue Moon Opportunity. You can make e a real difference and assist {{{kids | children}}} who not only {{{appreciate | value}}} their own rich cultural heritage, but are {{{hungry | eager}}} to embrace the {{{benefits | advantages}}} of the 21st Century.
Rick and Wendy Tendys, the founders of YouMe Support Foundation, are raffling Seachange Lodge (a private holiday home, plus 6 luxury holiday apartments) on the Internet. This very {{{innovative | ground breaking}}}, world first raises funds for non-repayable high school education grants for the children of the outer islands of Vanuatu. This Blue Moon Opportunity will {{{change | alter}}} someone’s life, as well as the lives of these beautiful children. This is an opportunity you cannot afford to miss out on.
