Those pines were planted to support a modest furniture production industry, but most woodworkers don't want to have anything to do with this wood that they see as "inferior".
So the pine-trees continue to grow happily and are hardly ever used. And, wild horses live up here - we encounter an exceptionally beautiful representative, a mother with child, while gathering wood for our barbeque.

And on Saturday, again, as part of the big festival, there'll be a folklore competition. This time one of the groups has a surprise for us. During the dance, in no time at all, they build a marquesian hut from bamboo and palm fronds, and they place a tiki, one of their famous stone figurines, in the middle. And their dance around this hut is also very impressive.

It just such a pity they copied part of the other groups program - and they are, rightfully so, a little disappointed. But they still impress us with their perfect performance and are anyhow the moral winners.

More news from Nuku Hiva, next week ...
… until then, take care!

Tom & Nela