Dating from the 19th century, the cargo cults experienced a revival among South Seas islanders (particularly in Melanesia) after World War Two when withdrawing troops left surplus supplies with the natives. They are based on the belief that if the proper rituals are performed and the proper offerings made, the great ships and planes carrying cargo will return to the islands and the goods will be distributed to all. Sometimes a messianic figure is involved - for example, residents of Vanuatu (AKA the New Hebrides) believe that a white man named John Frum will arrive in a scarlet plane bearing cargo and will drive out the other white men from the island (with the help of his army, which lives in a volcano on the island) and help the natives regain control.