Parau

    The Origin of the word Parau

A friend of mine on Facebook, Gidoen Kakabin, did some  research to find out the origin of the word "parau". This was prompted by my comment on a photo of a ship sailing in to Kokopo town from the Duke of York Islands. The photo was posted on Facebook by another Tolai friend, Esau Melli.

After consulting sites on the Internet including a publication by Bishop Museum in Honolulu this is part of what Gideon came up with.

PARAU - KUANUA FOR SHIP

The Tolai or Gunantuna people of the Gazelle Peninsula use the word "Parau" as the name of a ship. The word I believe, originates in Micronesia and is used to describe the Flying outrigger canoes called "Proa".

The earliest record of the word "Proa"was made by Antonio Pigafetta (1491 -1531). Pigafetta  traveled with the Portugese explorer Ferdinand Megallan. He served as Ferdinand's assistant and kept an accurate journal of the voyage. He recorded the "flying Proa" in the Landrone islands (Marianas) and part of it reads:

“The chief amusement of the Landrone islanders consists in sailing about with their wives in canoes similar to the gondolas of Fusine near Venice but they are still more narrow, all of them are painted either black, white or red. The sail is made of the leaves of the palm tree sewed together and has the shape of a latine sail. It is always placed on one side and on the opposite side to form an equipoise to the sail…”

In the year 1748, another writer, “Baron George Anson” describes the vessel as follows:

“The name “flying proa”given to given to these vessels is owing to the swiftness with which they sail.”

So how did the name “Proa” came to New Britain?

I think that the name was introduced into New Britain by the Hernsheim Brothers. Eduad and Franz Hernsheim came to Matupit in 1875 via the Marshal islands in order to secure trade with the locals.  Eduad stayed in Matupit and Franz was based in the Marshal Islands. Franz Hernsheim  was also an artist and quite a few of his engravings are of the “Proa” as shown here.

On the origin of the word “Parau”

    The Origin of the word Parau

A friend of mine on Facebook, Gidoen Kakabin,(photo above) did a bit of reading to find out the origin of the word "parau". This was prompted by my comment on a photo of a ship sailing in to Kokopo town from the Duke of York Islands. The photo was posted on Facebook by another Tolai friend, Esau Mell.

After consulting sites on the Internet including a publication by Bishop Museum in Honolulu this is part of what Gideon came up with.

PARAU - KUANUA FOR SHIP

The Tolai or Gunantuna people of the Gazelle Peninsula use the word "Parau" as the name of a ship. The word I believe, originates in Micronesia and is used to describe the Flying outrigger canoes called "Proa".

The earliest record of the word "Proa"was made by Antonio Pigafetta (1491 -1531). Pigafetta  traveled with the Portugese explorer Ferdinand Megallan. He served as Ferdinand's assistant and kept an accurate journal of the voyage. He recorded the "flying Proa" in the Landrone islands (Marianas) and part of it reads:

“The chief amusement of the Landrone islanders consists in sailing about with their wives in canoes similar to the gondolas of Fusine near Venice but they are still more narrow, all of them are painted either black, white or red. The sail is made of the leaves of the palm tree sewed together and has the shape of a latine sail. It is always placed on one side and on the opposite side to form an equipoise to the sail…”

In the year 1748, another writer, “Baron George Anson” describes the vessel as follows:

“The name “flying proa”given to given to these vessels is owing to the swiftness with which they sail.”

So how did the name “Proa” came to New Britain?

I think that the name was introduced into New Britain by the Hernsheim Brothers. Eduad and Franz Hernsheim came to Matupit in 1875 via the Marshal islands in order to secure trade with the locals.  Eduad stayed in Matupit and Franz was based in the Marshal Islands. Franz Hernsheim  was also an artist and quite a few of his engravings are of the “Proa” as shown here.

UNITECH Lae, OPEN DAY

Papua New Guinea University of Technology held its last open day from the 24th to 27th August 2009. That is only four (4) years ago and not twelve (12) as claimed by Time-line UNITECH and posted on Dr Albert Schram's blog. The Open Day ran alongside and was part of the Huon Seminar and lasted four days.

Schools and the public were invited to visit the university. My reasoning for this at that time was that it was an excellent opportunity for children in primary to high school to visit the university to give the  opportunity to build their aspirations to dream of studying at university one day.

All departments took part in this open day. The Mining and Engineering Department put up their display in the Library including a video show. All other departments put up the displays and stalls in their own departments. The National Broadcasting commision came all the way from Port Moresby and set up their display in the Library.

The Huon Seminar Committee gave me the task of organizing this open day. That was only four years ago. Not 12 years ago as stated in Time-line UNITECH. It says

"14 September: All departments organize an open day, for the first time in 12 years"