intermittent stream – a stream or body of flowing water that only flows seasonally, or for part of a year, depending on conditions and weather.
atoll – a ring-shaped coral reef or a string of closely spaced small coral islands, enclosing or nearly enclosing a shallow lagoon. Two of the Pitcairn islands are atolls with many islets.
adze – an axe-like tool used for smoothing wood that was cut roughly when it comes to handworking
Makatea – a French Polynesian island which is composed of uplifted coral located in the central South Pacific. In the early 1900's, it was discovered that it had phosphate rock deposits, but those were mined to exhaustion
midden – a dunghill or refuse heap; a dustbin
Donner Party – a group of wealthy American pioneers who set out to California in the 1840's by wagon train. They chose an unconventional way to go on their journey, which forced them to spend a winter in Nevada with few supplies. Many died of exhaustion, starvation, freezing and many of the survivors resorted to cannibalism.
Heaven's Gate Cult – a UFO/Christian based cult which was centered in California. This destructive, doomsday group. They believed that Earth was to be wiped clean in the immediate future, and that the only way to survive was to “pass to the next level”, that is, commit suicide. They had many New Age beliefs, and near the end of the 20th century, 39 individuals committed suicide to assent to a higher level.
taboo – proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable; forbidden or excluded
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