Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-04-21
The Inhabitants of the Gilbert Islands.

The Inhabitants of the Gilbert Islands.
The captain ofthc missionary ship, Nor
ming Star, in letter to the Boston Jour-
mi says:
OF all Micronesia, the inhabitants are by
far the most numerous. In any of the
other groups the attention will not be par
ticularly attracted by great numbers, but
upon landing upon any of the Gilbert ISL
ands and viewing the beach literally
covered with natives, no one fails to ask,
Where did they all come from? How can
they all live upon this small piece of land?
1t is estimated that over half of the popu-
lation of Micronesia are found in this one
group, their numbers at the present time
being estimated at nearly fifty thousand
people. One of the smallest islands, not
over two miles in diameter, has upon it
some seventeen hundred inhabitants, while
Tapitenea, an island thirty-two miles in
length, has population Of nearly six
thousand
A boat approaching the shore is the sig
nal for all in the vicinity TO assemble
upon the beach, Before leaving the
boat il is interestin 9 to stand and take
u view of what is before us. Nearest the
waters edge will be II throng of children,
of both sexes, from two to twolve years of
age, guillless of all clothing. Directly
behind them will be throng of men. from
the youth to the gray head. Some of these
are destitute OF clothing as the children
before them, while the remainder are but
little better off Farther up the beach,
and huddled logth or under the nearest
trees will be the crowd of women, no less
curious, but not allowed in the rank of
men. Never in one instance have | yet
seen n woman in any part Of Micronesia
entirely delitute OF covering. Some sub.
stitute for cloth is manufactured on all
the islands and from the waist 10 the
knees all the women are always covered.
AS we step from the boat to the beach
| the crowd of children scatter and scamper
away to what they seem to consider u safe
distance. If we are particularly i'm
pressed with the. appearance Of any OF
them, and they find our eyes resting upon
them, like deer they will dart into the
crowd until lost to our sight.
AS we walk up the beach. u passage
among them is at once opened for us tc
pass through, which rs quickly closes
ag lin us they fall in our footsteps to fol
low us on, while the women still content
themselves with distant view.
The people of this group are darker
colorcd, aud a larger race than we have
found farther to the west, excepting al
Ruk. they bear striking resemblance
to the liaWaians, and have many word.
of the same language. The Hawaiian
missionaries find they are able to acquire
this language much more readily thar
Hawaiians i'll other groups. This people
will average five feet eight inches in
height, and many perfect forms are seer
among them, with tie exception of many
very horrible sears received in battle, an,
others made by themselves TO let out the
pain for they do not hesitate TO slash open
Il suffering part for this purpose. In IL,
part of Micronesia do We begin to see Sc
terocious people. Their idea of courage
is that of all the ignorant. a young mar
once brought to mo long spear. mad,
with the terrible sharks teeth Gas are al
their spears and swords), which he desireC
to sell. During our conversation the spca
slipped from its position on the rail, anC
in his haste to grasp it before it fell h
received Il most severe wound in the pain
of his hand, ftom which the blood rar
freely. Not the slightest notice of the
accident was taken by him, not even look
ing at the hand, and disdaning to hav
me do SO. Thus their idea of coura ge i
often the means of losing their lives.
In this group we see all the disgustn;
forms of remaining healhenism, which
though seeing, seems impossible to believe
Had we not witnessed their customs re
garding their dead, it would seem in
credible, even to us. After the years o
: missionary labor among them, it is no
uncommon for IL mother in the heather
party TO carry about with her the body o
her dead child until it falls to pieces. Sh
will then carefully clean the bones in,
carry them. A wife will often continue t.
; sleep for weeks beside the dead body o
her husband. While thus preserving thei
. dead, it is their custom to daub themselves
over with the roth from the mouth OF thu
deceased, and to share with them thei
food. The bodies of men, women an(
/ children are tattooed, and this cruel worl
t is commenced upon children before they
} are vet II year old. We were at II loss
, before coming here. to know from Whence
r came the ridiculous fashion Of banging
the hair we had often noticad it ut home
: but here we saw at once that it was il
imitation of the mop-like head of the Gil
, bert island women, who bang their hal
to keep it from their eyes. We canno
understand. however, how the style wa
ever introduced to our land, rs no mis-
sonary lady from here was ever vair
enough 10 do it.