The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-04 00:00:00

THE PELEW ISLANDS.

In the last number of the Isvestia of the Russian
Geographical Society, the eminent New Guinea ex-
plorer, Dr. Miclucho Maclay, gives an interesting
account of the results of his observations in
the Pelew Islands during a stay there in April, 1878.
His observations enable us to correct and complete
those of previous visitors. The population of these
islands is, from causes imperfectly known, but which
may be connected with lax morality and intestine
strifes, much lees considerable than might be expected.
The relative rarity of natives strikes all who visit the
Archipelago. Dr. Maclay thinks the Pelew people a
mixed race, with a certain proportion of Papuan blood.
Their crania have a strong tendency to dolichcephaly,
contrary to what has been observed in Papuasia.
The Pelew people almost universally pierce the
nasal cartilage, and men and women, on reaching the
age of puberty, blacken their teeth by a process
exceedingly painful, lasting several days, and require.
lug great power of endurance. Tattooing is also in
use, but the designs are neither so extensive nor so
elaborate as in the island of Wap and neighbouring
islands. Moreover, the women appear to pay more
attention to the habit than the men. This custom of
tattooing, when practised on particular parts of the
skin, gives rise to a temporary inflammation of the
neighbouring lymphatic glands and to a violent tume-
faction. Indeed, it is stated that many of the natives
cannot bear an extensive tattooing, and sometimes
operations of this kind are followed by the death of
the patients.
The 1.-)elesv group is composed of about a dozen
islands and i4lets, of various sizes, the largest of which
is called Babeltoo. The government is in the hands
of a number of independent chiefs, who bear different
titles. To give an idea of the number of principal
chiefs and of the small extent of their respective
territories, Dr. Maclay states that the natives told him
of no less than ten districts, at the hen I of which are
great independent chiefs. Side by side with the tem-
poral authority there exists an ecclesiastical authority,
exercised by the Kalites, a sort of soothsaying class,
who enjoy great influence among the people, and
who even in certain cases, very rare indeed, exercise
or control the functions of the chief. The natives
have rec oirse to the Kalites in all cases of
difficulty;_ the latter accompany them in their.expedi-
tions, and pass as the authors Of victory or de-
feat. Each village possesses its Kalite. The office
may be filled by women, European traders must
reckon with these imposters and gain their favour by
presents ; it is on their decision that the security of
Europeans who live in the islands partly depends. In
fact, the people, full of faith in the supernatural power
of their priests, do not hesitate to sacrifiLe whatever
has had the misfortune to displease them. In each
village is found around the dwellings of the chiefs, and
even of private individuals structures remarkable for
their emallneqe to which the natives give the name of
oritenga ; they are supposed to be maintained for the
visits of an invisible Kalite, but in reality the earthly
Kaliees accommodate themselves in the more spacious,
and there pass whole days without any other company
than that of the natives, who carry to them the
necessaries of life.

The religion of the inhabitants of the Pelew islands
is a veritable Shamanism. These islanders believe in
a future life; they imagine that the dead return, a
few days after their death, to visit the house in which
they lived and the places they used to frequent; their
presence is betrayed by noises of various kinds, and
is feared by the natives, especially the women,
although it is exempt from all hurtful influence.
The habitual sojourn of these souls, according
to the natives, is in the island of Nyaonr ; there
many persons declare they have seen their dances
and heard their songs; there also provisions,
are carried. The defunct enter upon the new ex-
istence with the same rank that they possessed in the
world. The souls of Kalites and chiefs do not reside
at Nytiour, but at Ayakhel, that is to say, in a heaven
where everything is better than
.at Nyaour. The
worship of ancestors exists • alongside of Shamanism
in these islands. Under the name of Mougoul, the
superstitious practice of taboo exists in the Pelew
islands. No trace of religious ceremonies is found
among the islanders, except perhaps in the ca,se of
burials, when the chief pronounces a sort of eloge on
the departed.
The male population of the Pelews is divided into
clubs, the members of which are named Kaldebekhel,
the places of meeting being called pal; to these are
attached women called mongols. Each poi consists of
from 15 to 40 men. Outside each pal is a large and
remarkably well-executed figure oi a naked woman,
with arms and legs extended, supported on the knees.
The situation of woman in the Pelews is cm.
paratively high, and her influence is considerable.
They may oc'Jupy the office of Kalite and even fill the
place of a great chief. They form special societies
like the men, and profess to exercise jurisdiction over
those of themselves who are guilty of any grave delin-
quency. The Pelew people are polygamons, but the
women enjoy great liberty, and may go alone to dances,
barquets, and other gatherings. The natives show
considerable ingenuity in their buildings. As to their
character, Dr. Maclay maintains that their intercourse
with Europeans has decidedly, deteriorated them.—
Monday Timcs.