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NAURU PICTURE GALLERY

The island of Nauru is well known for the phosphate mining that took place there. Perhaps less well known are the Nauru people who have a very distinct and beautiful history, culture, customs, rituals and lifestyle. They were at one with their island and its surrounds.

The images on this Web site are both historical and rare and show the people of Nauru as they existed before 1921. This was a time when their culture, customs and lifestyle had not been excessively disrupted by the phosphate mining and the brutal Japanese occupation during World War 2.

This Web site is an important historical and anthropological statement about the Nauruan people.   

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A traditional Nauruan village
Click on the above for a larger image

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A road bordered with coral makes the twelve mile circuit of
the island of Nauru, following the beach for the entire distance.
Click on the above for a larger image

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A lady carrying coconut drinking vessels.
In her hand she holds an implement for grating coconut.

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The beautiful Nauru lagoon

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A felled tree is floated to the village
and beached and shaped to form the canoe.

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A Nauruan canoe constructed in the traditional manner under the
supervision of a senior canoe builder. The pieces are tied together using coconut sennit.

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The catch of the day!

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The traditional costume for the "dance of the fish".
After the dance, the fish are eaten.

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The girls of Nauru are considered to be
among the most beautiful in the South Pacific

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A South Sea King and his loyal subjects. Before Nauru became under white rule,
they were governed by the King who made the laws which were enforced by their own chiefs.
In the photograph above, King Aweida is wearing the top hat.

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Buada lagoon

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Teachers and pupils of a missionary native school

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This electric tram line was used to haul phosphate to the piers
where it is placed into the surf-boats to be carried to the cargo vessels.

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Catching rainwater from coconut trees. When a coconut tree has a good bend in it,
the natives wedge the butt end of a coconut leaf into the knee which collects
and divert rainwater into a receptacle.
Click on the above for a larger image
 
Next: Nauru Postcards 1
Next: Nauru Postcards
Next: Nauru Stamps

Oceania Postcards and Picture Galleries

click here Nauru                                   
click here Nauru: A Short History       
 click here The Battle for Nauru            
 click here Jane's Oceania Home Page
 click here Jane's Kiribati Home Page  

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Jane Resture
(E-mail: jane@janeresture.com -- Rev. 21st May 2004)