The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-09-01
FISHERS ISLAND NEGROES.
Savages who Wear no Cloth
Ing.

Ing.
Correspondence Edinburgh Scotsman.
We left Sidney on the 9th Of
May, 1876, arriving at Hong Kong
on the Goth, after a very pleasant
passage, the weather being fine
The passages from Sydney to
Hong Kong are very little known
as yet. We came the middle pas
sage-that is, east of New Guinea,
New Britain and New Ireland,
but west of the Soloman Islands.
On passing a small Island called
Fishers Island, situated close to
New Ireland, we noticed canoes
coming off, so we stopped to see
what the blacks wanted, or rather
savages. About forty canoes
came alongside, with crews from
one to six men, bringing with
them bananas, cocoanuts and ap-
pies. These creatures wore no
clothing of any kind, barring a
few who sported head d-dresses.
They stand about five feet four,
rather well made, not stout, nor
of the deep black you see in the
African negro, but more of Ben
galee color and appearance. The
hair seems to have been original
ly black, but they dye it two or
three different eolors, as black,
green, and white; some all red, or
a brick shade. tits cut short, but
with what | do not know. Some
wore a necklace, some bracelets
Of shells, but only one could we
see with a ring through his
nose. There were a few tattoed,
but to a very small extent. We
were rather surprised to find one
in each boat have on his right arm
a few green leaves resembling
those Of the olive. They did not
draw our attention to them, so |
suppose they thought we were
aware Of its meaning, "an en-
blem of peace" That seems to
be known by every savage tribe.
Even when first seen by white
men they wave the green. These
men seemed to be quite friendly,
trying to make us understand
them. We gave them a lot Of
clothes and little odd and ends.
Knives they were anxious to get,
but, above all things bottles.
They use the glass for curving on
wood, One fellow got a looking
glass, he turned it round and
round, up and down, just like a
monkey, wanting to see the in
side. | shall never forget the
laugh he gave when at last he
saw his black face in it. The more
he laughed the more his likeness
laughed; he could not make it
out, he imagined there was some
one at the back Of the grass,
The clothes we had given them
had only one fault, that was they
did not know how to put them
on. 1t was ludicrous to see them
trying to put on vests. 1t shows
how little they knew of white
men, if anything, We offered
them pipes, tobacco and matches,
but they refused them all. Now,
the first things a black who has
been in company with whites
asks for are rum and tobacco. | !
think probable these sayages
had never seen a steamer or white
man before, and everything being |
beyond their comprehension, ac-
counts for their not being fright |
ened. They all seemed highly |
pleased. There were about two
of them, and a great
many were coming off, but we
could not wait. Ihave every rea-
son to believe that we made a
good impression upon them, but
hey are not to be trusted. When
vessels are lost on the islands,
hey first take the ship, then mur-
Ter the whites and eat them. The
canoes are very nicely cut out Of
4 log, and prettily ornamented at
he ends. lThis they do with
sharp stones, They nse a small
paddle as an oar. On our steam
ng ahead, they accompanied us
jwo or three miles /; but seeing
hat they could not keep pace,
hey gave us a loud cheer and
,urned homeward.