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43-472: It is inhabited by a Polynesian community of about 2,400 people, who speak the Ontong Java language . Geographically, Ontong Java belongs to a scattered group of three atolls which includes nearby Nukumanu Atoll and the wholly submerged Roncador Reef located 75 kilometres (47 miles) to the south. Administratively Ontong Java belongs to Solomon Islands . As an outlying part of Malaita Province , it forms

86-609: A German scientific expedition of the Southern Seas that took place in 1908–1910. This expedition visited both Ontong Java and neighboring Nukumanu Atoll, where they also carried out their research. Their work, "Luangiua und Nukumanu" was published in 1931. Sarfert and Damm claimed that both names of the atoll, Lord Howe and Ontong Java, were incorrect and called this atoll Luangiua in their works. Jack London first called this atoll "Oolong". Later he would write in one of his novels: Nobody ever comes to Lord Howe, or Ontong-Java as it

129-516: A breeding site. Ontong Java is a Polynesian outlier . The inhabitants retain a Polynesian character despite their location in the Melanesian Archipelago of Solomon Islands. In former times both men and women wore elaborate tattoos all over their bodies. Two dialects of one language are spoken in this atoll, Luangiua and Pelau. This language belongs to the Polynesian stock . Ontong Java

172-527: A cabinet-maker, in 1841 to carry temperance supporters by railway between the cities of Leicester , Nottingham , Derby and Birmingham . In 1851, Cook arranged transport to the Great Exhibition of 1851 . He organised his first tours to Europe in 1855 and to the United States in 1866. In 1865, the founder's son John Mason Cook began working for the company full-time. In 1871, he became a partner, and

215-472: A number of culturally Polynesian societies that geographically lie outside the main region of Polynesian influence, known as the Polynesian Triangle ; instead, Polynesian outliers are scattered in the two other Pacific subregions, Melanesia and Micronesia . Based on archaeological and linguistic analysis, these islands are considered to have been colonized by seafaring Polynesians , mostly from

258-693: A rough triangle bounded by Hawaii , Easter Island , and New Zealand . Outside this Polynesian Triangle , in areas commonly designated Micronesia and Melanesia , lie about two dozen islands, most of them small and remote, whose inhabitants speak Polynesian languages . These islands are collectively termed the Polynesian "outliers". Their residents generally share racial features found within Polynesia proper. Physically, Polynesians tend to have brown complexions and dark, wavy hair, and they are typically large people of muscular build. The fact that people in all of

301-490: A steamship across the Atlantic, a stage coach across America, a paddle steamer to Japan, and an overland journey across China and India. In 1873, publication of the quarterly (monthly from 1883) Cook's Continental Timetable began. It continues to be published in 2021, but no longer by Thomas Cook Publishing, which was wound up by its parent company in 2013; the timetable was relaunched in 2014 by an independent company, under

344-465: Is sometimes called. Thomas Cook & Son do not sell tickets to it, and tourists do not dream of its existence. Not even a white missionary has landed on its shore. Its five thousand natives are as peaceable as they are primitive. Yet they were not always peaceable. The Sailing Directions speak of them as hostile and treacherous. But the men who compile the Sailing Directions have never heard of

387-636: The Nuclear Polynesian languages . In some of these islands, the outlier population may also speak the local Melanesian or Micronesian language. A 1983 study analyzing the DNA of 2400 people in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have found markers which clearly distinguish the Polynesian outlier islands of the group. Of the four Polynesian outliers considered, Anuta was the most genetically distinct, followed by Rennell and Bellona. Tikopia showed more influence from

430-474: The 1980s, Thomas Cook had its most visible business presence in the United States, including robust sales of traveller's cheques to regional American banks. The company had enough business critical mass to set up a computer centre near Princeton, New Jersey . Robert Gaffney, Charles Beach, Robin Dennis and Anthony Horne were some of the notable decision-makers in that era. Robert Maxwell bought substantial holdings in

473-487: The German company C&N Touristic AG, which changed its name to Thomas Cook AG , which then merged with MyTravel Group to become Thomas Cook Group in 2007 and collapsed in 2019. The brand was relaunched as Thomas Cook Tourism in 2020. Thomas Cook & Son was founded by Thomas Cook , a cabinet-maker and former Baptist preacher, in 1841, under the name Thomas Cook , to carry temperance supporters by railway between

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516-991: The Pacific: in the Federated States of Micronesia , in Papua New Guinea , in Solomon Islands , in Vanuatu , and in New Caledonia . The Federated States of Micronesia has two outlier cultures, Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro . Papua New Guinea has three: Nuguria , Nukumanu , and Takuu . The country with the most outlier cultures is the Solomon Islands, with seven (listed from north to south): Ontong Java (Luangiua), Sikaiana (the Stewart Islands ), Vaeakau-Taumako (the Duff Islands and Reef Islands ), Rennell and Bellona in

559-531: The Polynesian outliers speak recognizably Polynesian languages implies that their ancestors fairly recently migrated from the Polynesian heartland. Yet there is much social variation. In some places, outlier populations settled in close proximity to Melanesian or Micronesian populations and seem to have been influenced by them. In other locations, outlier populations remained isolated by geography, ecology, or choice and seem more classically Polynesian. Polynesian outlier cultures are scattered across five countries of

602-492: The United States in 1866. In 1865, the founder's son John Mason Cook began working for the company full-time. In 1871, he became a partner, and the name of the company was changed to Thomas Cook & Son . Thomas Cook had acquired business premises on Fleet Street , London, in 1865. The office also contained a shop which sold travel accessories, including guide books , luggage, telescopes and footwear. Thomas saw his venture as both religious and social service; his son provided

645-675: The Wagons-Lits company was seized by the Germans, and the British assets taken over by the Custodian of Enemy Property . In 1942, Thomas Cook & Son was sold to Hay's Wharf Cartage Company , which was owned by the four major British railway companies. The company was nationalised along with the railways in 1948, becoming part of the British Transport Commission . In the late 1950s,

688-517: The agency organised the first escorted tours of the United States for British travellers, picking up passengers from several departure points. John Mason Cook led the excursion which included tours of several Civil War battlefields. In 1871, a brief but bitter partnership called Cook, Son and Jenkins was formed in the United States with an American businessman. The first escorted round-the-world tour departed from London in September 1872. It included

731-466: The area of Tonga , Samoa and Tuvalu . The closest Polynesian outliers, Anuta and Tikopia in Solomon Islands , were settled some time between the 10th and 13th centuries and subsequently received multiple waves of Polynesian immigration, while the farthest outlier, Nukuoro in the Federated States of Micronesia , was only settled in the 18th century. The region commonly termed " Polynesia " includes thousands of islands, most of them arranged in

774-401: The atoll is 1,400 km (540 sq mi), but there are only 12 km (4.6 sq mi) of land, spread out over 122 small islands. The islands are mostly low-lying coral formations, the highest elevation being 13 m (43 ft). Approximately 2000 people live on the atoll. There are two main villages where the population is concentrated with 1,386 on the island of Luaniua in

817-411: The atoll's inhabitants make a subsistence living by means of coconut and taro (root) cultivation, as well as fishing. Until a ban in 2005, the primary source of income was beche de mer and trochus shells, which were shipped to Hong Kong . The inhabitants are also involved in copra production. It also has a prolific number of sea birds, including the black-naped tern , which uses Ontong Java Atoll as

860-696: The business. In 1924, the company was renamed Thomas Cook & Son Ltd., after acquiring limited liability status. Frank and Ernest opened a new headquarters in Berkeley Street, London in 1926, but unexpectedly sold the business two years later to the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grandes Express Européens , operator of the Orient Express . After the Fall of France , the Paris headquarters of

903-434: The change that was worked in the hearts of the inhabitants, who, not many years ago, cut off a big bark and killed all hands with the exception of the second mate. The survivor carried the news to his brothers. The captains of three trading schooners returned with him to Lord Howe. They sailed their vessels right into the lagoon and proceeded to preach the white man 's gospel that only white men shall kill white men and that

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946-399: The cities of Leicester , Nottingham , Derby and Birmingham . The company's first excursion was a one-day rail trip, from Leicester to Loughborough and back; the price of one shilling included a meal. This has been described as the world's first package tour. In 1851, the founder arranged transport to the Great Exhibition of 1851 . He organised his first tours to Europe in 1855 and to

989-438: The commercial expertise that allowed the company to expand. In accordance with his beliefs, he and his wife also ran a small temperance hotel above the office. Their business model was refined by the introduction of the 'hotel coupon' in 1868. Detachable coupons in a counterfoil book were issued to the traveller. These were valid for either a restaurant meal or an overnight hotel stay, provided they were on Cook's list. In 1866,

1032-512: The company announced its intention to sell its financial services division, in order to concentrate on tours and holidays. In March 2001 the financial services division was sold to Travelex , who retained the right to use the Thomas Cook brand on traveller's cheques for five years. It sold off its worldwide foreign exchange business to Travelex in November 2000. In 2001, Thomas Cook was acquired by

1075-466: The company began showing information films at town halls throughout Britain to promote "foreign holidays", particularly France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain. The company sold "inclusive tours" (package holidays) using scheduled airlines but refused to sell cheap package holidays which compromised on quality and service. As a result, the company began to lose market share during the 1950s and 1960s, although its operating profits exceeded £1 million for

1118-541: The company bought short-haul operator Sunworld and European city-breaks tour group Time Off. Within three years the company had combined Sunworld, Sunset, Inspirations, Flying Colours and Caledonian Airways into the JMC (for "John Mason Cook") brand. On 2 February 1999, the Carlson Leisure Group merged with Thomas Cook into a holding company owned by West LB, Carlson Inc and Preussag Aktiengesellschaft . In 2000,

1161-405: The company in 1988 and still held that interest when Crimson/Heritage purchased the U.S. division of Thomas Cook for US$ 1.3 billion in 1989. In June 1992, following the acquisition of Midland Bank by HSBC , Thomas Cook was sold to the German bank Westdeutsche Landesbank (WestLB) and the charter airline LTU Group for £200 million. In September 1994, American Express (Amex) bought

1204-464: The corporate travel interests of Thomas Cook Travel Inc. which represented about ten percent of the British company's total revenue. However, Amex was not able to buy the venerable Thomas Cook name; an American Express affiliate, Cook Travel Inc., had been operating under that name since 1991 in the United States. Due to contractual difficulties, LTU Group sold its 10% shares to WestLB in May 1995. During 1996

1247-475: The eastern end and 689 on Pelau in the northeast. The islands were first inhabited by Polynesians approximately 2000 years ago. The main cultural and commercial exchanges took place with the inhabitants of neighboring Nukumanu Atoll, with whom Ontong Java people share many cultural affinities. It is likely that the first European sighting was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña on 1 February 1568. It

1290-544: The end of 1878. He moved back to Leicester and lived quietly until his death. The firm's growth was consolidated by John Mason Cook and his three sons, especially by its involvement with military transport and postal services for Britain and Egypt during the 1880s when Cook began organising tours to the Middle East. In 1884, the British Government attempted to relieve General Gordon from Khartoum . The British army

1333-536: The first time in 1965. The company was denationalised in 1972, when it was acquired from the British Government by a consortium of Trust House Forte , Midland Bank and the Automobile Association . Midland Bank acquired sole control in 1977. The company's name was altered from Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd, to Thomas Cook Group Ltd in 1974, and the company began to relocate most of its administrative functions from London to Peterborough in 1977. During

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1376-412: The lesser breeds must keep hands off. The schooners sailed up and down the lagoon, harrying and destroying. There was no escape from the narrow sand-circle, no bush to which to flee. The men were shot down at sight, and there was no avoiding being sighted. The villages were burned, the canoes smashed, the chickens and pigs killed, and the precious cocoanut trees chopped down. For a month this continued, when

1419-412: The name of the company was changed to Thomas Cook & Son. The company was nationalised in 1948, along with the railways, becoming part of the British Transport Commission . After de-nationalisation in 1972, it was acquired by a consortium of Trust House Forte , Midland Bank and the Automobile Association , then subsequently bought by Westdeutsche Landesbank in 1992. In 2001, it was acquired by

1462-400: The nearby Melanesian population. All indicate traces of inter-island population movements, and even sources from Europeans, Africans, and Asians, though the latter were at a low level. Two of the more remote Polynesian outliers have disputed legal sovereignty : Thomas Cook %26 Son Thomas Cook & Son , originally simply Thomas Cook , was a company founded by Thomas Cook ,

1505-570: The northern Solomon Islands speak Ellicean languages (which also includes Tuvaluan ), while those further to the south in the Solomons, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia speak Futunic languages (which also includes the language of Wallis and Futuna ). These are two of the branches of the Samoic language family , which is sometimes called the Samoan-Outlier language family for this reason. It is a sub-branch of

1548-403: The northernmost tract of land of this state, over 250 km (160 mi) north of Santa Isabel Island . The closest land, however, is Nukumanu Atoll, which lies only 38 km (24 mi) due north of Ontong Java's northern tip and, though historically closely related to Ontong Java, is now under the administration of Papua New Guinea . Ontong Java is roughly boot-shaped. The entire size of

1591-625: The only one in the couple's lifetime, the company would arrange for a variety of activities new to the middle-class, including museum visits, the opera, and mountain climbing. John Mason Cook promoted, and even led, excursions to, for example, the Middle East where he was described as "the second-greatest man in Egypt". With the boom in travel in the Edwardian era , John Mason Cook's sons, Frank Henry, Thomas Albert and Ernest Edward , were even more successful than their father and grandfather had been at running

1634-523: The schooner sailed away; but the fear of the white man had been seared into the souls of the islanders and never again were they rash enough to harm one. Ontong Java was later visited by Sydney University anthropologist Herbert Ian Hogbin in 1927. Hogbin's study of Ontong Java was published in 1934. In religious terms, Ontong Java is part of the Anglican Church of Melanesia Diocese of Malaita . Polynesian outlier Polynesian outliers are

1677-562: The southwest, and Anuta and Tikopia in the southeast. Vanuatu has three: Emae , Mele (now known as Ifira-Mele) and Futuna-Aniwa (on Futuna Island and Aniwa Island ). Futuna recognizes links with Tonga. New Caledonia has one Polynesian outlier culture on Ouvéa in the Loyalty Islands , where the Fagauvea language is spoken. The outlier groups in Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, and

1720-407: The title European Rail Timetable , no longer affiliated with Thomas Cook Group. In 1874, Thomas Cook introduced his "circular notes", a product that was originally devised by a London banker in the 1770s and was later superseded by American Express 's " traveller's cheques ". Conflicts of interest between father and son were resolved when the son persuaded his father, Thomas Cook, to retire at

1763-493: Was charted by them as Bajos de la Candelaria (shoals of Our Lady of Candlemas in Spanish). The following verifiable sighting by Europeans was by Abel Tasman in 1643 who named it Ontong Java; however, it was not until 1791 that Europeans set foot on the islands, when Capt. John Hunter (later Governor of New South Wales) named it Lord Howe Atoll. In 1893 the islands were annexed by Germany and ceded to Great Britain in 1899. Today

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1806-570: Was transported up the Nile by Thomas Cook & Son. The company had established offices around the world by 1888, including three in Australia and one in Auckland, New Zealand , and in 1890, the company sold over 3.25 million tickets. A husband and wife might, for example, pay £85 for a Thomas Cook tour of Germany, Switzerland, and France over six weeks. While expensive enough that the trip would likely be

1849-576: Was visited by English missionary George Brown in mid 19th century. Brown described the population as Polynesian and referred to the place as Lua Niua . He recorded the existence of a two-class system in Ontong Java and, based on it, inferred that it was probable that exogamous classes formerly existed in Samoa as well. The first detailed research on Ontong Java's inhabitants, however, was conducted by German ethnographers Ernst Sarfert and Hans Damm , during

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