Or so the story goes.

The missionaries didn't actually alphabetise the languages of Kiribas. The British Colonial Service did. The missionaries had a go at it, the Catholics more noticeably than the protestants, but they all effectively failed Poof! Ex urban myth. The missionaries did, however, force the women, who had happily gone as topless as the men for ever, into "Mother Hubbard" dresses. They also brought Christianity - for the want of a better expression - to the islands and set denomination against denomination. This in an island population who just loved an excuse to go to war.

And Fijian names and nouns with the "ng", "mg" or "nd" sound are also spelled without the "n" or "m". So therefore, the name of General Rabuka (who led two coups against the legitimate government in Fiji) is actually pronounced "Rambooka", and the international airport in Fiji on Viti Levu, spelled "Nadi" is actually pronounced "Nandi". Go figure!


The idiot also known as Capfka ...