In the isolated tropical islands of Vanuatu, the people have from generation to generation orally passed down the stories and traditions of their culture. The sacred Bay of Olal, on the Island of Ambrym, is the home of a large rock, named Pouviaserole. The locals say it was once the guardian of the bay.

According to tradition Pouviaserole, or Guardian, was a huge beast with the appearance of something between a savage dog and a wild boar. In the middle of its head there was a large horn

The tropical waters were a favourite swimming place of the children from the nearby villages unaware that Pouviaserole had transformed himself to an innocent looking log on the beach.

Sometimes the children would pick up Pouviaserole and throw the log into the ocean and watch it drift back to the beach. It was such fun!

Then Pouviaserole would suddenly transform itself back into the monster it really was, pounce on the unsuspecting children and consume them.

Its belly filled with children and undetected, the beast would slink back into its lair which was concealed underwater. It would remain hidden for many months, until it would once again repeat the deception.

Things finally changed when the Chieftan of the local village declared the beach taboo. That part of the ocean was off limits to the children.

When Pouviaserole finally realized that the children no longer visited his beach, the monster decided to pay the village a visit. Licking its lips, at the thought of the coming feast, it slithered along the ground.

The most handsome and the strongest child of the village, was suddenly snatched greedily by the monster. This boy was the son of the Chief.

The guardian of the sacred bay had finally enraged the Chief. He ordered the men of the village to hide in the bush surrounding the beach.

Not having satisfied its stomach growling, the monster needed to hunt for more food.

It was only out of the water a small way when the avenging hunters attacked. The men of the village rushed forward in spite of the size of the huge beast. Throwing their spears, the first hit the monster in the eye and the next in its stomach.

The beast,suffering grievous wounds, was determined not to breathe it’s last on a beach in front of the assailants. It turned and headed for the safety of its lair.

A spear flew through the air, in a last ditch effort to halt the monster's progress. The warriors were determined to finish the beast off.

Blood from the beast stained the sacred water a violent red. Pouviaserole remained immobile to protect itself from the arrows and spears that began to rain upon it. The beast quickly transformed itself into a rock. The monster had lost its life, but gained immortality.

Visitors can see the guardian of the bay in the Bay of Olal, even today. A large black stone dominates the tropical waters of the bay.

In the book of oral traditions of Vanuatu, 'Nabanga', one can read many stories such as Pouviaserole the Guardian Rock. For the first time outside Vanuatu, some of the sacred art of Ambrym was shared in a recent art exhibition in Australia. Vanuatu secrets are slowly being revealed.

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