The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-04-28
SOUTH PACIFIC sAvAGEs.
The Marshall Islanders, Their Wars, Dress
Rites and Social Habits.

The Marshall Islanders, Their Wars, Dress
Rites and Social Habits.
(From The San 1raacisco Hraminer.)
The inhabitants of the far South
Pacific coast islands are iii many re-
spects strange human beings, and not
the least singular fact III connection
with them is their manner and custom
of life, both in the domestic circle and
when battling with other tribes. Some
5000 miles from this city is the Mar
shall group Of Islands, the inhabitants
of which are conspicuous for their
warlike propensities, great size. and
gigantic strength, together with other
traits of strongly original character,
and regarding with little or nothing is
known in the civilized world. A few
days ago the three-masted schooner
John Hancock returned from trading
cruise to the Gibc and Marshall groups
and the master of the vessel, Captain
| William Chapman, secured valuable
collection of curiosities in the shape Of
war clubs, spears, boat paddles, shells,
etc. With Captain Chapman, as a
passenger, was young man, 5. f.
Gray, connected with the house of
a. Crawford & Co., of this city, who,
during his visit to the islands, gained
| much Interesting information concern
ing the islands and their inhabitants.
The natives are large aud powerful.
They are not unlike the New Zealand
ere, being of q dark, copper-colored
complexion. In addition to p natural
INCLINATION for warfare, they are very
treacherous, and in some portions OF
the group are cannibals. Their main
occupation is like that of the Indian,
loatins and picking cocoanut., which
are prepared and shipped to this coun-
try with considerable profit When
not engaged in harvesting tie scocou-
nut crop or losfng about Oh the ocean
in dug-out canoe, the Marshall
islander puts in his time carving gro
tcsque tiglfres on canoe paddles and III
whiting uut murdereus-looking War
clubs, spears, arrows and other simi
lar weapons. In carving they display
great ingenuity, and while the figures
as shown Oh the paddles are not ex-
actly pretty, they are very intricate,
aud are not unlike similar work done
in China. The figures on the paddle
represent idols, and according 10 the
islanders belief, if upon his boat pad
die there is carved u figure Of All idol
he CAN safely navigate anywhere. In
this connection it may be we'll 10 state
that these islanders are the bclticst and
most skillful canoe navigators in the
Pacific. They make voyages extend
ing over many months, trusting to
Providence, or rather rain, to supply
them with fresh water. They navigate
by means of 3 chart composed of small
sticks tied together and representing
the position of the various islands as
regards the point of departure.
In warfare their weapons consist OF
clubs, spears and arrows, all OF which
thep use with the greatest skill and
accuracy. The clubs are made Of
ironwood, and are very heavy. They
are of various shapes, the most MUIR
derous being the gnarlcd root of the
ironwood tree The other clubs are OF
lighter character. The arrows arc
made of light bamboo, the points being
of ironwood. The spears are also
made out Of the same kind OF timber
and run down to fine point, which is
tipped with a poisonous preparation.
The feather end is fantastic and gaudy,
regular bouquet of feathers plucked
| from the rarest birds being used and
blended together with strict regard
for coi0rs.
The islanders, particularly in the
vicinity of New Ireland, have no par
ticulsr love for the whites, and it is
not an infrequent occurrence to find
some settler lying in front Of his door
dead 1t is the work of some native,
who, having become offended at the
white man, has lain in wait and killed
him.
AS race they are very prolific, and
it is not ar uncommon thing, so Mr..
GRAY states, to see from fifteen to
twenty children in each house, the Off
spring Of one woman. The natives
do not tolerate polygamy, and after
marriage the women are famous fol
their fidelity. a sort Of slave traffic
exists throughout the islands. though:
and single women can be purchased
for servants and concubines for mere
trife. Clothing is thing unknown in
most of the islands. In and about
New Britain and Ireland, however,
the breech-cleth is used.
A WASHINGTON correspondent to
the New York Tribune in a recent
article, in speaking Of the tariff, says:
Speaker Carlisle is inclined to take q
hopeful view of the prospects of tariff
legislation at this session of Congress.
He is reported as estimating that not