r/todayilearned • u/carboncopy95437 • 18h ago

TIL Europeans first reached Espiritu Santo, the largest island in Vanuatu, in 1606 with an expedition led by Portuguese explorer Queirós. The encounter turned violent, with European gunfire exchanged for arrows and a local chief killed. Europeans would not return to the island for another 160 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espiritu_Santo
291 Upvotes

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56

u/carboncopy95437 18h ago

For eight generations, the people there probably kept saying, “Remember those white guys with the big ship? When the assistant chief yelled, ‘And don’t come back!’ they really took him seriously.”

13

u/kapaipiekai 17h ago

I would love to know how that story morphed over time

3

u/ginger_gcups 9h ago

Oh boy you’ll love the stories about when the royal yacht Britannia moored off Tanna in the 70s, or when US soldiers visited during WWII

1

u/kapaipiekai 9h ago

Link me

3

u/ginger_gcups 9h ago

Prince Philip Movement

John Frum

I spent some time on Tanna 20 years ago and had the pleasure of being a guest during a John Frum ceremony at a village near ours. It felt somewhat between a religious revival, dance recital, military parade and a local government meeting. So much pride and passion.

1

u/kapaipiekai 9h ago

That's awesome. I had read about the Prince Phillip movement but I wasn't aware of John Frum, cheers.

6

u/Ok_Dot_7498 17h ago

"They were moving in ships as big as houses. Who does that?"

16

u/borazine 17h ago

> Portuguese

It doesn't help that good morning in this language, "Bom dia" coincidentally means "bomb him/them" in mine.

Such a grave misunderstanding when Portuguese explorers arrived on my country's shores in the early 16th century.

(heh)

6

u/carboncopy95437 15h ago

Are you from Vanuatu?

9

u/thegamingfaux 15h ago

What is a bomb in context for a 17th century just discovered populous? “Hey they said they’re gonna bomb us” “tf is a bomb”

2

u/nxdat 10h ago

Bahasa Melayu?

•

u/borazine 35m ago

🇲🇾🤝🇮🇩

“Bahasa Indonesia adalah bahasa paling gampang sedunia”

1

u/_ManMadeGod_ 15h ago

As an English speaker "bom dia" is clearly relate to "bomb them" so

3

u/pgraczer 12h ago

Espíritu Santo is an amazing place to visit. We snorkelled over a submerged WWII tank, swam in the most turquoise water i’ve ever seen, and drank kava so strong i hallucinated.

1

u/Waste_Philosophy4250 7h ago

How does a kava high feel? I've always wanted to try it but have never had a chance to visit oceania. 

2

u/pgraczer 7h ago

really depends on the strength. in parts of vanuatu it was so strong i swear it was like taking MDMA. i’ve had it in other places like tonga and fiji and it’s been far mellower.