The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-04-22
yoiyed in tho calamity of that bilps
sOUTH PACIFIC SAYAGEs.
Hho Marshall Islanders, TIL cir Wars, Dross
Rites and Social Habits

| Rites and Social Habits.
(b1'ona tho San Francisco Eranainer.)
| The inhabitants of the far Sontl
Pacific coast islands are in manv re
spects strange human beings, and no
the least singular fact in connoctio,
with them is thoir manner aud onston
OF life, both in tho domestic circle AND
when battling with other tribes. SOM
5000 miles from this CITY is the Mar
shall group Of Islands, tho inhabitant,
of which are conspicuous for thei,
warlike propensitics, great size. amf
gigantic strength, together with othe,
traits of strongly original cbaractor
and regarding with little or nothing Is
known in the civilized world. A few
days ago the three masted schooner
JOIN HancocE returned from TRADING
cruise TO the Gibe and Marshall groups
and the master Of the vessel, Cuptai,
William Chapman, secured q valuable
collection of curiosities in the shape OF
war clubs, spears, boat paddles, shells,
etc. With Captain Chapman. as q
passenger, was n young man, S. T.,
Gray, connected with the house OF
~. Crawford Il Co., Of this CITY. who.
during his visit to tho islands, gained
much interesting information concern.
ing the islands and their inhabitants,
The natives arc large aud powerful
They arc not unlike The New Zealand.
ere, being Of dark, coppcr-culored
complexion. In addition to q natural
inclination for warfare, they arc very
trcacherous, and in somo portions Of
the group are cannibals. Their main
occupation is like that Of tho Indian,
loaling anu picking cocoanuls, which
arc prepared and shipped to this coun-
try with considerable profit When
not engaged in harvesting tic Cocoon
nut crop or loafing about on the ocean
in q dug-out canoe, tho Marshall
islander puts in his time carving gro
tesque figures on canoe paddles and in
whiting out Misunderstanding war
clubs, spears, arrows and other simi
lar weapons. In carving they display
great ingenuity, and while tho figures
as shown on the paddles arc not cx-
actly pretty, they are very intricate,
and arc not unlike similar work done
in China. The figures on the paddle
represent idols, and according to tho
Islanders belief, if upon his boat pad
die there is carved a figure of an idol
he can safely navigate anywhere. In
this connection it NAV be well TO state
that these islanders arc the boldest and
most skillful canoe navigators i'm the
Pacific. They make voyages extend
ing over many months, trusting to
lroyldcncc, or rather rain, to supply
thcm with fresh water. They navigate
by means of n chart composed of small
sticks tied together and representing
the position OF the various islands ns
regards the point of'teparturc.
In warfare their weapons consist of
clubs, spears and AFRO ws, all of which
thcp uso with the greatest skill and
accuracy. The clubs arc made of
lronwood, and are very heavy. They
arc of various shapes, the mos mur-
dcrous being the gnarle, root Of the
ironwood tree. The other clubs are of
llghtcr character. The arrows are
MADE OF light bamboo, the points being
OF lronwood. The spears are also
made out of the same kind of timber
ana run down to fine point, which is
ooPPeu win poisonous preparation.
The feather end is fantastic and gau,ly,
2 regular bonquot of tonti,ora I7mokc.i
from the rarcst birds being used and
blended together with a strict regard
for colOrs.
The islanders, particularly In the
of New Ireland, have no par
ticular love for the whites, and it is
not an intrequent occurrence to find
some settler lying in front of his door
dead. 1t is the work Of sOmc native,
who, having become offended at the
white man, has lain in wait AMI killed
him.
AS race they arc very prolific, and
II Is not MI uncommon thing, SO Mr..
Gray states, TO sec from fifteen to
twenty children in each bousr, the Off
spring Of one woman. The natives
do not tolerate polygamy, and after
marriage tho women are famous for
their fidelity. a sort Of Il sluvo traffic
exists throt. ghout the islands, though,
and single women can be purchased
for servants and c0ncubincs for Il mere
tritlc. Clothing is a thing unknown in
most of the islands. In and about
[HitGtY Ny Britain and ireland. however,
the brcccrSJJQlA is u;el: