From The Grave

Chapter 4

She grinned and patted the cushion beside her, tucking her legs under her and getting comfortable.

"Okay, you know where it is now" ─he groaned─ "it's about one hundred square miles in size with a perimeter of uneven cliffs. It is essentially a raised coral island. It's probably only about two hundred feet above sea level at the highest point.

The whole island is surrounded by a fringe of broken reef. It's humid and it rains a lot. You'd be happy to know that wildlife is limited but it is mostly covered with forest and light vegetation. Tons of fish." She grinned at his expression.

"Want more?" She continued without waiting. "There's only about 1800 or 1900 people on the island, a mix of Tongans, Samoans and even some English. There are actually well over 15,000 Niueans living abroad, mostly in New Zealand. They send money back to help families since New Zealand got tired of funding them and cut back."

"How do they survive? What do they do?" Arny asked with fake enthusiasm.

She ignored his tone. "Agriculture mostly. They export canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit, limes, and the usual touristy handicrafts. They actually have a tiny tourist industry.

"I guess so, with that handful of people. How could you live like that? Robinson Crusoe must be a patron saint."

"Church is important; makes for most of the social life." Gretta droned on.

"Catholic?" he didn't really care; he just wanted to interrupt.

"No, actually, most are Protestant. They are self-governing, Arny, with elections and a legislative assembly. It's all very civilized. They have a strict educational system as well. Only two schools, elementary and high, which are free, but mandatory."

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Okay, I give, if you want to retire Niue's the time."

"That's pathetic, even for you."

"Okay, okay. So where does this stamp come in?"

"In 1900 Niue was successful in getting under the protection of the British Crown, then it was annexed by New Zealand as part of the Cook Islands. In 1904, I think it was, they became a separate colony with its own administration and began preparing for self-government."

"The stamp, Gretta, not more history."

"It's context, Arnold."

"Fine. So when did that happen, self-government?"

"1974 it became completely self-governing in free association with New Zealand. New Zealand handles any foreign affairs and military defense requirements as you might imagine. The place is likely 1000 years old as far as settlement goes, Arny."

"I'm still waiting." He held up the picture of the stamp.

"As with a number of small island countries that printed limited editions of their own stamps, Niue produced an issue of the stamp you're looking at to celebrate their beginning as a separate colony; the serious philatists around the world are always eager to collect unique issues and so producing stamps became an economic venture."

"Why isn't Cook pictured on it instead of this Shriner."

Gretta choked on a laugh and had to wait until she stopped coughing to answer. "It's a warrior, Arny. I wouldn't say something like that to his face."

"Well look at the hat." He held out his arms as to say, point made.

"He was the first European to visit Niue. They didn't give him a very nice welcome and he told them back in England that he called the place Savage Island. Naturally the church perked up its ears and soon missionaries appeared, shoving Christianity down their throats."