Information AboutMangaia |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MANGAIA | |
| islands of the cook islands | |
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The Capital of Mangaia is the village of Oneroa, in the west. There are two more villages, Tamarua (south) and Ivirua (east/northeast). Historically, there have been five districts (including the present villages). Clockwise, starting in the north, they are Tavaenga, Karanga, Ivirua, Tamarua, Veitatei, and Keia. Mangaia is renowned for its shell neckbands or "eis". These are made from the shells of the tiny yellow snail, the pupu, which emerges only after rain. Gathering, piercing and stringing is a very time consuming business. The women of the island often give the highly prized strands away as gifts of friendship to visitors from other islands in the Group. Sometimes other Cook islanders make a joke to the Mangaians as calling them the British. The reason is that long ago, during a trip to London, Numangatini, the king of Mangaia received from Queen Victoria herself a Union Jack . From that time, Mangaians believe they have (and it's probably true) a special relationship with the British Crown. The flag is still preciously kept at Oneroa. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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