Tuamotu Archipelago (1929-1931)

Kenneth P. Emory was delegated by the Museum to conduct a thorough survey of the numerous atolls which comprise the Tuamotu Archipelago. J.Frank Stimson, who had attended Yale University and later taken up residence in Tahiti, had assisted the Museum in translating Tahitian and Tuamotuan material and had been appointed to the Museum staff in 1928 as Research Associate in Linguistics. He was appointed assistant to Emory in carrying out the Tuamotu survey. As the atolls were widely scattered and as transport by trading schooner was uncertain and irregular, Emory was authorized to have a suitable motor boat built in Tahiti to accommodate the survey.

Emory arrived in Tahiti on March 2, 1929, and, while the boat was being built, visited Takaroa and Takapoto. The motor boat Mahina-i-te-pua was ready by September 7, and the atolls of Faite, Katiu, Raroia, Napuka, Fagatau, and Fakahina were visited during the remainder of the year.

The first six months of 1930 were spent in overhauling material in Papeete, Tahiti, with an interlude visit to Makatea. After June 17, visits were made to Anaa, Hikueru, Amaru, Vahitahi, Takoto, Nukutavake, Vairaatea, Pinaki, and Reao, whence the boat returned to Papeete. In December, a trip was made to Meetia with H. D. Skinner, Lecturer on Anthropology at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

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In 1931, on his return trip to Honolulu, Emory visited a number of museums in New Zealand. He arrived in Honolulu on July 10, after an absence of two and a half years, with a rich amount of information, particularly with regard to maraes, and a large assprtment of dictaphone records of native chants and songs. Stimson had been particularly busy in collecting the native texts of songs and traditions and in making translations. He continued in Tahiti the task of translating myths and legends and compiling a Tuamotuan dictionary.