Yesterday we met Palau, an amazing archipelago in Micronesia. We started in on Palauan history and got sidetracked by Prince Lee Boo. Let’s pick up in 1898 when the Spanish colonizers of Palau lost the Spanish-American War and sold Palau, as part of the larger Caroline Islands, to Germany. Germans “developed” Palau by mining and harvesting its natural resources like bauxite and phosphate. The Japanese made a secret treaty with the British that as part of their declaration of war on Germany they would be given control of Micronesia. In 1914 the Japanese colonized Palau aggressively, and in 1919 the Treaty of Versailles sealed the deal. The Japanese sent many immigrants to populate the islands–at one point the immigrants even outnumbered the indigenous people–and installed Japanese-friendly Palauans into the local leadership. They also confiscated and redistributed lands and supported the development of a patrilineal system of descent. After the Japanese lost World War II Palau became part of U.S.-administered territory and, after a long series of votes and much unrest it officially signed a “Compact of Free Association” with the United States. Got it? Maybe not. But even if you don’t you can get a kick out of Palauan-Hawaiian musician Sister Lubei performing live.
Tag Archives | Palau
Meet Palau’s Prince Lee Boo (while watching Palauan dancers dance)
The Micronesian nation of Palau is an archipelago consisting of eight main islands and over two hundred islets that sit in the Western Pacific about 500 miles east of the Philippines. About 4,000 years ago people from the Philippines were likely the first to settle Palau. The islands developed a strong system of clans, with land and money passing generation to generation matrilineally (through the female line). There is debate about whether 16th century Spanish explorers who eventually claimed several Micronesian islands for the Spanish crown saw Palau on their travels, but there is clear and fascinating historical record of the unplanned first visit of a British captain, Henry Wilson, whose Antelope shipwrecked there in 1783. Wilson and most of his men survived the wreck and became guests of King (“Ibedul”) Abba Thulle who allowed them to fell trees to build a boat that would take them to China. After some of Wilson’s men worked with Abba Thulle to help him defeat some rival tribes–British guns were quite helpful in that regard–Abba Thulle encouraged his son, Prince Lee Boo, to return with Wilson to England. En route to England Lee Boo learned European ways and endeared himself to the crew. Lee Boo arrived in London in July of 1784 and his visit was going very well indeed–he achieved much notoriety for his curiosity, intelligence and charm…until he caught smallpox and died before the end of the year.
