ANCIENT CHINESE INSCRIPTION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21083, 7 February 1934, Page 8

ANCIENT CHINESE INSCRIPTION

Discovery in the Fiji Islands SYDNEY MAN TO CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS [THE PKESS Special Service] AUCKLAND, February 6. Having three years ago discovered in the Yasawa group of the Fiji Islands what is believed to be the only ancient inscription ever found in the Pacific, Mr A. J. Vogan, of Sydney, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, passed through Auckland by the Niagara on his return to Fiji to take casts of the inscription. Casts will be forwarded to the University of Manchester and several universities in the United States.

"I sent photographs of the inscription to various parts of the world, and noted authorities, including Professor Sadler, of the University of Sydney, agree with me that the inscription is of Chinese origin, and is 2000 years old," said Mr Vogan before his departure from Auckland for Suva. From Suva Mr Vogan will travel to the Yasawa Group by auxiliary cutter to carry out his important archaeological work. Fortunate Adventure, It was purely by chance that the discovery was made. About three years ago, Mr Vogan said, he was 'travelling in the Fiji Islands in a cutter when it struck a reef off an island in the Yasawa Group, which is in the extreme north-western section of the islands. The craft was salvaged, and, while it was being repaired, Mr Vogan determined to explore the island. When the buli. or chief of the village, learnt from photographs that the visitor was interested in archaeology, he led him to see some ancient fortifications with trenches 30ft deep. They came on a gigantic monolith standing about 90ft high, consisting of a man nursing a child. A Huge Cathedral. "This was in itself an important discovery, and it shows how much yet has to be learned in the Pacific,' said Mr Vogan. Afterwards the buli took Mr Vogan into a hug'! cathedral-like building shaped Hk~ a cave, which in parts was 180 ft high. In one corner was an ancient altar hewn from the solid rock. Fronting the altar was a lake, on the opposite side of which was an inscription, apparently of Chinese origin, and about 2000 year-; old. Sufficient, light entered the cave through cracks in the roof to enable Mr Vogan to secure time exposure photographs, which he had to take while standing in a lake. "The discovery of the inscription suppoi ts my contention that thi; Chinese were the first navigators of the Pacific," added Mr Vogan.