The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-26
THE Loo CHoo ISLANDS.
a Model Governmen .. one That
Rulss BY Kindly Admonitions.
[From International Review.l

-
Ralss BY Kindly Adnenisions.
IFrom International Review.I
These Islands have recently become
irregular province of the Japanese EN-
pire, but are still subject of serious
controversy between japan and China.
Their ancient name was Lieu Kiu,
which has been corrupted by modern
uavigators into Loo Choo, Lew Chew,
and Lieou Kieou, and by the present
natives into Doc Choo; bet the more
musical name of Okiuawa was given
to them by the inhabitants themselves
centuries ago, and the meaning Of 1t is
"the cord lying upon the sea-" The
entire group consists OF shirty-seven
Islands, the largest of which is eighty
FIVE miles long by from three to twen-
ty-miIes in width, and has a circum-
ference of la n, or about 27S miles.
During the whole of the eighteenth
ceutury the islands of Okinawa would
seem to have remained In a state of
perfect tranquility. They continued
to pay double tribute to Japan and
China, and having faithfully done so
they felt that they had right to bring
in from abroad any new ideas that
they might fancy Hence they i'm
ported the paper mulberry from Ja-
pan, and began to manufacture paper;
and from China they obtained the Sc
cret Of making India ink, and also as
an article of food when young. and for
the beauty of its wood they imported
and cultivated the famous moso bam-
boo. They also adopted a code of
criminal laws and of laws for reward,
and not only established q National
school, but many local schools in the
various districts. The peculiarities of
tho inhabitants of Okinawa may be
summed up as follows: They are noted
for their natural intelligence, though
the majority have few opportunities
requiring the knowledge contained in
books; their language is closely allied
to that Of the Japanese their occupa.
tions are chiefly agricultural, the lead
ing productions being rice, whest,
s0gar, mfilet, sweet potatoes, cotton,
indigo, beans, peas, radishes, turnips,
tobacco and flax; their manufactures
are limited to cloths made from cot
ton and grass, to porcelain and lacq-
uered goods, and such other things as
are needed for q simple rural popula-
ton the men are generally stout, well
formed, and fond of wearing boards
low sociaI position; all classes are in
idostfious and neat in their persons
aud habitations; their style of dress
ing is Oriental and suited to the eli
mate; their homes are comfortable
and picturesque the table and house.
hold customs are similar to those of
the Japanese; in religion they are
generally Buddhists, although some of
their rites are peculiar to these islands.
They know not what it is to have an
army, nor any such offspring of civili-
zatfon as political demagog their
policy is to carry on their public af-
fairs in spirit of courtesy and kind
ness. When they have deemed it nee
essaryto carry guns on their vessels,
they have borrowed them from Satsu-
ma. They use the Japanese alphabet |
and write after the manner of their /
and protectors and, i'm speak
ing of their language, they claim that
six-tenths OF the words are Japanese,
three tenths a local dialect, and one
tenth Chinese. When any public bust.
ness is to be transacted the people are
called Together in their several dis
tricts, and the men in authority ac-
the purpose of the Govern
ment by kindly admonitions.