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Anejom̃ (Aneityum) | |
|---|---|
 Location | |
 Interactive map of Aneityum | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 20°12′S169°49′E / 20.200°S 169.817°E /-20.200; 169.817 |
| Area | 159.2 km2 (61.5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 852 m (2795 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Inrerow Atamein |
| Administration | |
Vanuatu | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 915 (2009) |
| Languages | Aneityum,Bislama,English,French |
Aneityum, also known asAnatom orKeamu, and also speltAneitum is the southernmost island ofVanuatu, in the province ofTafea.
The population of the island is believed to have been between 9,000 and 20,000 prior to the arrival of the Europeans[1] in1793. However, introduced diseases andblackbirding played a major role in Aneityum's massive depopulation, which left the island with fewer than 200 inhabitants in 1930.[citation needed]
At the time of first contact with Europeans (around 1830) the island was subdivided into sevenchiefdoms (nelcau) that each were presided by anatimarid (high chief) (clockwise, starting in Northwest:):
The chiefdoms were further subdivided into more than 50 districts that were presided by minor chiefs (natimi alupas). The power of the chiefs was mainly of ritual nature.[2]
TheRoyal Navy vesselHMSHavannah visited theNew Hebrides (now Vanuatu) in late 1850, stopping at "Aneitum", along with the islands ofTanna,Erromango,Efate,Malakula (also with variant spellings) and other islands in theSouth Pacific Ocean.[3][4] A second visit was made by the same ship, for the purpose of transporting missionaries to the islands, in May 1851.[5][6][7]
Aneityum is the southernmost island of Vanuatu, in the province ofTafea.[8] TheMatthew and Hunter Islands, to the south, are disputed withNew Caledonia, but considered by the people of Aneityum Island part of their customary ownership.[citation needed]
Its southeastern cape, Nétchan Néganneaing, is the southernmost point of land in Vanuatu, more southerly than the southern satellite isletInyeug. The latter, however, is surrounded byIntao Reef, that extends even further south, albeit submerged, thus being the southernmost feature of Vanuatu.[citation needed]
The island is 159.2 km2 (61.5 sq mi) in size. It rises to an elevation of 852 m (2,795 feet) in Mount Inrerow Atamein.
The larger of its two villages isAnelcauhat (a.k.a. Anelghowhat), on the south side.
Aneityum had a population of 915 in 2009.[9]
The main language of Aneityum island is also calledAneityum, orAnejom̃ in the local orthography.
The island is served byAnatom Airport, not on the main island itself, but on the tiny island to its south,Iñec (or Inyeug, also known as "Mystery Island"), across the main village, which has three weekly flights fromPort Vila viaTanna.
From theGovernment Gazette.New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 531, 17 May 1851, Page 3
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