The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
The BRIG MORNING STAR.
Cruise Of the Floating Missionary Temple
Among the Islands of the Pacific.
The Heather in His Natural State Preyi-
Gus to Being Kidnapped.
HONOLIIu .Jupe 2. ii

hpsVLtLo, juno D, iot7.
The Rev. F. T. Doane has furnished very inter.
estng letter to the Friend from which the follow
ing is taken:-
MISSIONARIES AFLoAr.
After cruise about the Seven Islands the mis-
sonary tug Morning Star filed away for the Mort
lock group, lying nearly due west from N'gatiK.
Her approach here was in dead silence--not as in
some cases canoes Fastening on TO strade 1t was
canoe was seen, though she had run some ten or
twelve miles along the eeward shore, and why
had been here a few years since and had stolen
quite number OF natives. How our blood heated
Wp s se is hs %e
not repeat 1t; yet ! shall never forget the
comical, yet serious way In which chief narrated
me cry plenty much, "Mhe spoke broken English,
All hai to Her MaJesty's Government for these
kidnapped ones, who have been returned to their
homes. And yet while we shout this pean OF
praise to John Bull, what shall be said OF the
20 ove4 h eooe e nag Ss
better than the CARTS kidnapping True, the way
OF securing the victims is a little more humane,
pitiiess plantation, with years Of hard work, and
ia many cases hopeless. return to Father
leads the van in the worlds intellectual
thought, is also to lead the coohe trade
a reS 'ne aarx age ah,a swn Q, american
taken from this island as coolies by German ves-
sci, to be returned in five years. How olten were
we asked by mothers and brothers, when win
they come back And how often did we see
strings enclosing the house of some one taken
away They enclose because sacred to him. No
one could inhabit it, With this state OF things we
were not surprised at the reception OF the Star.
At first 1t was with such an ominous silence; but
as she nears the mouth OF the passage Of the la
COON q canoe Is deserted bearing down, headed by
Q ioreigner trader, he assuring his natives that
there was no DANGER We soon met them with
boat, exchanged salutations, and they boarded the
Star.
THE HEATHEN.
The first contact with this people prepOssesses one
in their favor, SO mild-loOking, so gentle SO tar
from rudeness. We often said. how kind, how
Woman-iKe they are, using this not as reproach,
but as description OF their general bearing.
surely these are not savages The canoe OF these
the islanders OF Micronesia, the ever-present
outrigger and timbers seized together by native
twine. The dress OF the islanders is simple. Their
mills weave not very finely nor abundantly! The
men, as one part Of their dress wear the marc, a
thick braid OF cloth about their lolns;
the bark of the hybsc us' two breadt t
sewed together 1t extends nearly to the feet
mented by native beads hairpin and coInb-this Is
small piece OF wood sitted into small fine teeth
lengtnwise. often carved and cocks feathers
arms and from the shoulder to the elbow being
thus ornanented, save occasionally with some a
semi-circe band run across the breast. Children
60 in undress; the women wear the native tapa
made from the bark OF the HIBISCUS, plainly orna-
dwellings, are simple The dwelling house proper
is simply the roof set on the ground, resting on
its caves; There is an excuse Tor door ar
is dark and sitting Close to this Is the cook
house, black and filthy. Much Of the cooking is
stone age, fornearly all implements OF work-axes,
knives ana the adze-are made from this or some
thing kindred to 1.-THE shell OF fish and turtle.
Near the dwelling or apparently In each commu-
nIty Is building of larger dimensions than has
been mentioned. 1t Is "hote," "a ''workhouse,"
shelter for large proas, a playground for chill
dren, campus Tor all meetings. 1t is not ele-
gantly made ;srather rude but strong. Large masks
were found at Satoan, an islet OF the Mortlock
group. some very large. Thew seemed tn
by executioners that they might do their deed
faithfully and be unknown.
THE MoRTLoCK GROUP.
But now that we have spoken OF the MOrtlOck
group, described their people and their customs in
general. 1t remains to speak OF separate islands.
The group we have named IS one discovered by
Mortiock in 1893, commanding the Young Willlam.
and both names are given TO the cluster. consist
five to seven miles IN width, their names being
Satoan, Etai and Lukunor. The Star visited
name OF the discoverer put it is proposed
to erase that and rename the atoi from
Its most important isiet more SO because most
fertile, most populous and evidently the Oldest
land formation OF the island, Satoan. TINS change
OF name is proposed for there is no other island in
1t should, naLive name. Satoan lies IN deg.
81 min. north longitude and 1853 deg 30 min. south
one TWO b pass so oer access to the
north side. The depth OF the Stars anchorage was
nineteen iathoms. Some sixty lslets crown the
well wooded and fruitlui others mere pin
heads in size. 1t was frequently observed That
had the breadth OF some coral islands in
Eastern Micronesia The bread iruit, cocoanut.
pandanas and other plants and trees abound here,
The wild pigeon anu smaller birds were seen.
The population may reach 1850. One slet, some
four or more miles long, has population OF 600.
atols Etal, LukunOr, Namaluk, LOsap, Mama, is
one, and possesses large affinity Tor the dialect
those Of Ponape So the words for nouss ANIMAL
canoe, moon, members OF the body, so many
verbs with their sufixes But ali this like
ing the language and giving to 1t its own litera-
ture. In leaving Satoan it may be remarked that
early navigators have represented the natives as
treacnerous, "were not to be trusted, no matter
how friendly they may appear.n The Star can
deny that charge From the first day OF her
anchOring to the last, here and at LukunOr, not
the first treacher0us sign was seen; indeed is
1t known that single article was stolen. Yet
ing: visits were made ashore without fear. 1t Ia
questionable II she ever anchored among people
world and vet SO mid as thus o. cue and 80 M
from the merely savage
Passing from Satoan the brig Morning Star
sailed across the lagoon, going out at the northern
outlet. 1t Is lagoon OF much beauty and safety,
because so largely tree from coral patches. Bear.
1853 deg. "a min. longitude, is Etal distant some
seven miles-an island without snip passage, but
It's reef Is crowned ,S with ma lqxurant growth Of
here. 1t is spoken of as q beautiful atoll. The
population may number some 600 or more. The
with which free communication Is kept up
by large proas. Passing by Etal she ran
northwest some twenty-five miles to Namaluk,
whose position is deg. So min. north latitude,
1853 deg 10 min. east longitude. Approaching
this island three large lslets were seen crowning
the reef verdant and apparently thickIy wooded.
The more than usual height OF the trees seemed to
give to the ato an unusual elevation, as II partly
heaved up by volcanic force. Reaching this island
at near sunset. there was no time for exploration;
but as the Star passed along to the lee shore
groups OF natives were seen sitting beneath the
trees, watching the approach OF the vessel sight
to them no doubt strange, as not many ships
touch here. This cautiousness OF the people not TO
launch at once proa and 'come off,r Indicated
fear And SO II was, for here were found those who
had been kidnapped by the Carl anu taken
to FIJI plantaton. Perceiving their unwilling
ness to come to the Star, her boat was sent them.
Three friendly natives from Satoan accompanied,
and, going up to the group, told them who the
strangers were, friendly missionaries. few
threw aside all fear came to US and shook hands,
heard message, bartered . little and then with
friendly .goodby'' were left. The language
customs and tattooing all were one with the
SatOans. No shin DaSsaQe merely One large