Pingelap is an atoll in the Pacific Ocean , part of Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia , consisting of three islands: Pingelap Island, Sukoru and Daekae, linked by a reef system and surrounding a central lagoon , although only Pingelap Island is inhabited. The entire system has a land area of 1.8 km² (455 acres) at high-tide, and is less than 2.5 miles (4.0 km) at its widest point. The atoll has its own language, Pingelapese , spoken by most of the atoll's 250 residents.
31-811: The first European observer of the islands was Captain Thomas Musgrave in the ship Sugar Cane . Captain MacAskill in Lady Barlow revisited them in 1809. Errors in measurement of their location resulted in the islands being separately named on charts in the 19th century as the Musgrave Islands and the MacAskill islands, within the Caroline archipelago. Historically, the Ouwa or the Paramount Chief or King of Pikelap which
62-472: A democratically elected system alongside the traditional system, which gradually weakened in power. Universal primary education was provided for Pingelapese children and a limited health care scheme was set up to eradicate the diseases introduced during the war. During the 1960s, the Peace Corps and U.S. Air Force settled on the main island. The U.S. Air Force constructed a missile watching station in
93-482: A population bottleneck in 1775 after a catastrophic typhoon swept through the island, leaving only about 20 survivors. One of these, Doahkaesa Mwanenihsed (the ruler at that time), is now believed to have been a carrier for the underlying genetic condition, but the achromatopsia disorder did not appear until the fourth generation after the typhoon, by which time 2.7% of the Pingelapese were affected. Since achromatopsia
124-445: A boat at night waving a large burning torch about to attract or confuse flying fish , which he then catches; the flying fish act as if the torch is the moon. When Sanne De Wilde was photographing the island, she said that red was the most common color the islanders claimed to "see". Despite green being one of the colors they are least able to recognize, many described it as their favorite color, which De Wilde attributed to their love of
155-471: A flame aloft in a parade or to provide illumination in any after-dark celebration. Modern torches suitable for juggling are made of a wooden-and-metal or metal-only stave with one end wrapped in a Kevlar wick. This wick is soaked in a flammable liquid, usually paraffin ( kerosene ). The torch is a common emblem of both enlightenment and hope , thus the Statue of Liberty , formally named Liberty Enlightening
186-406: A supply base. Allied Forces later attacked it. The presence of foreign troops on the island led to the introduction of a number of infectious diseases, including gonorrhoea , tuberculosis and dysentery , which reduced the population from its pre-war level of around 1000 to 800, and decreased the fertility rate significantly. The arrival of the U.S. Navy in 1945 resulted in the setting up of
217-457: A wooden stave with one end wrapped in a material which was soaked in a flammable substance. In the United States, black bear bones may have been used. Modern procession torches are made from coarse hessian rolled into a tube and soaked in wax. A wooden handle is usually used, and a cardboard collar is attached to deflect any wax droplets. They are an easy, safe and relatively cheap way to hold
248-537: Is a hereditary title that granted supreme rule of the land, ruled the island of Pikelap which is now known as Pingelap. Japan seized the atoll in October 1914, following the start of World War I . The hereditary system remained in place during Japanese rule, although the title was renamed "Island Magistrate". Japan used the southern part of Pingelap Island during hostilities in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II for
279-422: Is a type of illuminated procession which is held after dark so that torches carried by the participants form a spectacle (other types of an illuminated procession involve candles, lanterns etc). Magnesium torches were used commonly in the 1950s and 1960s as a means of underwater illumination. Magnesium burns with a bright white light, and burns underwater also. The association of a torch with love may date to
310-504: Is also the term for a battery-operated portable light . From the Old French " torche " meaning "twisted thing", hence "torch formed of twisted tow dipped in wax", probably from Vulgar Latin * torca , alteration of Late Latin torqua , variant of classical Latin torques "collar of twisted metal", from torquere "to twist". Torch construction has varied through history depending on the torch's purpose. Torches were usually constructed of
341-432: Is an autosomal recessive disorder, inbreeding between the descendants of Doahkaesa Mwanenised would result in an increased recessive allele frequency. By generation six, the incidence rose to approximately 4.9%, due to the founder effect and inbreeding , with all achromats on the island nowadays tracing their ancestry to Doahkaesa Mwanenihsed. Today the atoll is still of particular interest to geneticists ; due to
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#1732849109010372-490: Is no longer listed in the 1798 Lloyd's Register . Torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end which can be used as a light source or to set something on fire . Torches have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions , symbolic and religious events, and in juggling entertainment. In some countries, notably the United Kingdom and Australia , "torch" in modern usage
403-660: The Caroline archipelago . The islands were the Pingelap ( 6°13′5″N 160°42′10″E / 6.21806°N 160.70278°E / 6.21806; 160.70278 ) atoll , now part of Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia . Sugar Cane left Calcutta on 15 May 1794. She reached Madras on 29 June, the Cape on 4 October, St Helena on 25 October, Crookhaven on 25 December, and Kinsale on 31 January. She arrived at
434-565: The Gold Coast . In 1795, 79 vessels sailed from English ports to Africa to transport enslaved people; 14 sailed from London. Sugar Cane arrived at Cape Coast Castle on 21 September. She acquired captives there and arrived 5 January 1796 at Montevideo , in the Rio de la Plata with 228. She arrived back at London on 10 June. Marman received a second letter of marque on 1 July 1796. Sugar Cane , with Marman, master, sailed from London on 4 August to
465-541: The Americas. In 1796 or 1797, on her second slave trading voyage she captured a French ship, but shortly thereafter was herself captured. The British Royal Navy recaptured her and she apparently was returned to service. She is last listed in 1798. She was launched in 1786 upon the Thames River . In 1789 Lloyd's Register showed her master as W. Seaton, her owners as Turner and Co., and her trade as London- St Vincent . She
496-479: The Downs on 27 February. On 18 July 1795, John Marman received a letter of marque for Sugar Cane . The letter of marque authorized Sugar Cane to engage in offensive action against French shipping should the opportunity arise. Lloyd's Register for 1795 shows her master changing from Musgrave to "J. Manning". and her trade changing to London-Africa. Marman sailed Sugar Cane from London on 29 July 1795, bound for
527-853: The French captured Sugar Cane as she was sailing from Africa to Barbadoes. In 1797, 40 British vessels on voyages to transport enslaved people were lost. Thirteen were lost in the Middle Passage , sailing between Africa and the West Indies. During the period 1793 to 1807, war, rather than maritime hazards or resistance by the captives, was the greatest cause of vessel losses among British enslaving vessels. In 1797 Lloyd's Register still showed Sugar Cane , Manning, master, with trade Liverpool-Africa. The French renamed Sugar Cane Marseilloise (or Marsellois ). However, in October 1797 HMS Minerva and HMS Lively recaptured Marsellois as she
558-514: The Gold Coast again to acquire captives. In 1796, 103 vessels sailed from English ports to acquire captives from Africa and to transport them to the Americas. Eight of these vessels sailed from London. Sugar Cane arrived at Cape Coast Castle on 30 September. On her way, Sugar Cane recaptured Harlequin , which the French had captured as she was sailing from Liverpool to Africa. Sugar Cane sent Harlequin into Cape Coast . Shortly thereafter,
589-463: The Greek and Roman tradition of a wedding torch, lit in the bride's hearth on her wedding night, then used to light the hearth in her new home. Such a torch is associated with the Greek god of marriage Hymen . The idiom to carry a torch (for someone) means to love or to be romantically infatuated with someone, especially when such feelings are not reciprocated . It is often used to characterize
620-611: The UK, and by the Malta Labour Party . In the seals of schools in the Philippines , the torch symbolizes the vision of education to provide enlightenment to all the students. The torch is also associated with the Greek goddess of witchcraft known as Hecate in some works of art. The torch carried in relay by runners is used to light the Olympic flame which burns without interruption until
651-510: The World , lifts her torch. Crossed reversed torches were signs of mourning that appear on Greek and Roman funerary monuments—a torch pointed downwards symbolizes death , while a torch held up symbolizes life, truth and the regenerative power of flame. The torch is also a symbol used by political parties, for instance by both Labour (from 1918 to 1980) and the Conservatives (from 1983 to 2006) in
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#1732849109010682-614: The end of the Games. These torches and the relay tradition were introduced in the 1936 Summer Olympics by Carl Diem , the chairman of the event because during the duration of the Ancient Olympic Games in Olympia , a sacred flame burnt inside of the temple of Hera, kept in custody by her priestess. Juggling torches are often used as a prop in toss juggling : they can be flipped into the air in an end-over-end motion while being juggled, in
713-596: The jungle vegetation. Sugar Cane (1786 ship) Sugar Cane , was a three-decker merchantman and convict ship. In 1793 she transported convicts from Ireland to Australia . On her return trip she sailed from Bengal to Britain under contract to the British East India Company . During the French Revolutionary Wars she sailed under a letter of marque as a slave ship . She made two voyages carrying enslaved people from West Africa to
744-488: The man of planning a mutiny. Sugar Cane arrived at Rio de Janeiro in late June and left on 13 July. Sugar Cane arrived at Port Jackson , New South Wales on 17 September 1793. Other than the man who had been executed, no convicts died on the voyage, and the prisoners arrived in good health. Sugar Cane left Port Jackson for Bengal in late 1793, in company with Boddington . The vessels separated at some point, and Sugar Cane went on to discover some islands in
775-610: The more correct form of liturgical torches are non-freestanding (i.e. cannot stand up on their own). However, today, even in the Vatican, freestanding, tall candles in ornate candle-stick holders have replaced the former type. The torches are carried by torchbearers, who enter at the Sanctus and leave after Communion. Anglicans of the High Church and some Lutherans use torches in some of their liturgical celebrations as well. Torchlight march
806-481: The northeast of the island and a pier, with work beginning in 1978 on an airstrip, jutting into the lagoon, on the main island. The runway was finished in 1982, and currently Caroline Islands Air makes two or three flights daily to and from the atoll. Pingelap enjoys a tropical climate, with even, warm temperatures throughout the year. Precipitation is generally plentiful, with heavy year-round rainfall. elevation 8 feet (2.4 m) A significant proportion of
837-426: The population has complete achromatopsia due to total absence of working cones in their eye retinas, leaving them with only rods, a recessive genetic disorder that causes total color blindness in sufferers. This condition is known on the island as maskun , meaning literally "not see" in Pingelapese. Complete achromatopsia is normally a very rare condition, and its prevalence on the island has been traced back to
868-508: The same manner as juggling clubs or juggling knives , but because of their sound and 'trail of flame', they can appear much more impressive to audiences. To a skilled juggler, there is only a slight chance of being burned, but they are still dangerous. In former times, liturgical torches were carried in Eucharistic processions simply to give light. The Church eventually adopted their use for Solemn High Masses. According to Adrian Fortescue,
899-681: The small gene pool and rapid population growth, the disorder is now prevalent in almost 10% of the population, with a further 30% being unaffected carriers. (By comparison, in the United States , only 1 in 33,000, or 0.003%, are affected). Leading neurologist Oliver Sacks 's 1997 book The Island of the Colorblind references the island. It is reported that one Pingelapese island sea-fisherman with this condition has difficulty seeing in bright sunlight, but at night can see in much fainter light than people with normal vision can; he uses this ability in
930-560: Was coppered in 1793. Under the command of Thomas Musgrave, she sailed from Portsmouth for Ireland, on 9 March 1793. Having embarked with 110 male and 50 female convicts, she left Cork, Ireland, on 12 April 1793. A sergeant's party from the New South Wales Corps provided the guards for the convicts. On 25 May the Government's agent had a prisoner executed. The man had managed to get out of his irons and another prisoner had accused
961-470: Was sailing from Guadeloupe to France. They then took the richly-laden former Sugar Cane into Martinique. Sugar Cane was restored to her former owners, who revived her name. Although there is a report that she was loaned out to transport convicts, there is no record of that. A Sugarcane , Campbell, master, did arrive at Port Jackson on 15 October 1798 with a cargo of provisions. She then sailed for India, no date of departure being given. Sugar Cane