THE SEARCH FOR FATHER-BACHELOT - FIRST CATHOLIC MISSIONARY TO THE HAWAIIAN-ISLANDS (1827-1837)

The main objective of this study is to determine if the remains of Fat her Bachelor, leader of the first Catholic missionary group to the Haw aiian Islands, can be identified among the commingled human skeletal r emains brought back from Pohnpei, Caroline Islands, Federated States o f Micronesia, in 1977. An osteological/forensic examination of these r emains, a review of the literature, interviews with leaders of the exp edition, and ancillary considerations suggest that, in all probability , none of the skeletal remains from Pohnpei are those of Father Bachel ot. Father Alexis Bachelot, born in France, in 1796, was leader of the first Catholic missionary group to the Hawaiian Islands. He died in 1 837, after being exiled from the Hawaiian Kingdom. His remains were bu ried on the small islet of Na, off the coast of Pohnpei, the same year . An expedition to Pohnpei in 1977, to recover the remains of Father B achelot, resulted in the recovery of several sets of commingled remain s which are the subject of this study. A detailed osteological/forensi c study of these remains indicates the presence of at least ten indivi duals, including two subadults, two adult females, and six adult males . Stature estimates, the presence of osseous changes suggestive of tre ponemal disease, and other cranial, dental, and skeletal features are more consistent with Pohnpean than European ancestry. The presence of shell beads and other mortuary features strengthens this assertion. Re commendations for any future attempts to recover the remains of this f amous personage are made.