Vanuatu
Vanuatu – a Y-shaped country situated east if Australia on top of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” – is made up of some 80 volcanic islands. Over 82% of the population is of Melanesian origin. Though English, French and Bislama (an English pidgin) are the main languages of communication in the cities, 105 indigenous languages are also spoken in their respective areas of concentration. Vanuatu is home to many fascinating customs and traditions including grade-taking, sand-drawing, land-diving just to name a few. For more about Vanautu see Dr. E. Powe’s The Lore of Melanesia: A First Draft .
