Tongan practicality

      So we can't afford the barge right now? How about home built evaporators out of automobile inner tubes or any floating tube rings? Mount a cone of plastic or some other easily aquired material over the tube using a tripod. Then with a copper coil or any tubing leading from the apex to a collecting bladder and as long as there is a cooling surface, water vapor will condense drop by drop. Now float it on the nearest body of water. Doesn't matter if it is clean or not. Enough water vapor would condenses over time to provide  for a cool drink in the evening maybe enough for the next day when there is no sun to heat the device. Works every time. Tongan Style.  My theory is the thing would work even if you set it on a wet spot in the yard.  One can dig a hole in the ground. cover it with plastic then place a pebble in the center to form an inverted cone. Don't forget to place a cup or bowl in the hole to catch the precise drops of pure water evaporating from the ground.
    

     Talikai inherited a tidal trap from his father. It is made of chain link fencing and stakes driven into the reef in the shape of an inverted V. So that on the incoming tide the fish are not alarmed except when the tide falls the fish are trapped. Talikai took me out to see this marvel. We collected a full sack of fish in a very short period of time. The Tongans are masters of their environment.

        Later that Sunday morning, we went to the Grand Methodist Church that was built especially for the King of Tonga. This is a master work of engineering with high ceilings and hundreds of pews to accommodate loyal Tongans and their families. Valu insisted that I dress traditionally. There is a lot to prepare in this manner. A clean white shirt followed by a pocket sulu. Then a special apron of tapa and seashells overlain with more tapa.   Finally a breastplate of cowrie is draped over one's head.   A headband with feathers to complete the adornment made me feel special. I felt foolish and clumsy as well until the people saw me. The respect for one dressed traditionally this way was instantly communicated with ooohhs and aahhhs. I was the only white many Tongans had ever seen. To be dressed like a young chieftain was something to be admired   The singing echoed throughout Tonga as the young voices reached skyward in appeal and supplicance.  A truly remarkable day that culminated in another Umu roasting of a suckling pig and fish galore. 

      A Tongan Feast is not to be taken lightly.   Everyone eats and eats until they are forced to sleep. Upon awakening they eat some more.  There must be a hundred ways to prepare coconut creme dipping sauce.

    Talikai wanted me to order things from the USA. The thing he wanted most for the church people was toilet paper. Easy enough for me since I found the address for Weyerhaeuser on a toilet paper wrapper. I sat down and wrote a letter explaining the need for toilet paper since there was a shortage. The company agreed to send a shipping container full of paper products COD. I was a national hero.

      The coconut is the most important plant in the Tongan heritage. I am still learning about how to use the simple products like coconut oil. This remarkable oil is a medium chain fatty acid triglyceride that has awesome benefits. It truly is Gods' gift to man since you probably can fix everything wrong quickly and easily if you simply use this wonderful food wisely. ln this day of the internet you can simply type coconut oil in U Tube search line and you will get endless videos about the benefits of coconut oil. The uses of coconut is endless. The fronds are woven into shelter. The spines of the fronds are gathered into a broom. The trunk itself is sawn into timbers that are insect resistant and long lasting even if buried as fence posts. The green nuts is where you find the most nutrients. The soft inner mother is the first solid food many Polynesian babies taste. Papaya is also the best baby food going.  Most food is chewed by the Mother in order for her enzymes to begin the digestive process.  A baby does not develop a full set of digestive glands until they are a bit older and teething.

   I was standing on the beach on the Island of Ewa looking out over the briny blue. Off in the distance I saw two plumes of water vapor shooting up into the sky.  I immediately knew what this was.  Blue Whales have two ports or nostrils if you will, to clear their lungs in a mighty blast of saturated CO2.   Blue Whales had been diving in the Tongan Trench which is the second deepest spot in the ocean for eons.  They dive there to harvest the giant clams growing undisturbed for many decades only to be eaten by these powerful whales.  These creatures use their lower jaw to plow through the sediment on the bottom of this trench recovering all sorts of tasty treats.  This was a remarkable day for any seaman to see.