The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-04-29
SOUTH PACIFIC sAyAGEs.
The Marshall Islanders, Their Wars, Dress
Rites aud Social Habits

spects strange human beings, and not
ths least singular fact in connection
with them is their manner and custom
OF life, both in the domestic circle aud
when battling with other tribes. Some
6,OU@ miles from this city is the Mar
shall group of Islands, the inhabitants
OF which are conspicuous for their
wariike propcnsities, 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 threc-masted schooner
oOhR U0ncOcG returned from trading
cruise to tho Gibe and Marshall groups
and the master of the vessel, Captain
William Chapman, secured valuable
collection of curiositics in the shape of
war clubs, spears, boat paddles, sheps,
etc. with Captain Chapman, rs
passenger, was Il young man, S. e.
Gray, connected with the house of
~. Crawford Il Co., of this CITY, who,
during his visit to the islands, gained
much interesting information CONCERN
ing the islands and thcir inhabitants.
The natives aic large and powerful.
They are not unlike the New Zealand
ere, being of dark, coppcr-culorcd
complexion. In addition to natural
lrc!ination Tor warfare, they arc very
trcacherous, and in some portions OF
the group arc cannibals. Their main
occupation is like that of the Indian,
l""ting aud picking cucoanuls, which
are prepared and shipped 10 this coun-
try with considerable profit When
not engaged III harvesting tie ,cocoa-
nut crop or loaiing about on the ocean
in n uu%-onL cauun, the Marshall
iN'a'lHcr puts III his Time carving GRO
'"-Pu" ilS,trcS on canoe paddles ANA in
whiting cut murdcrouS looking war
r''ihS, spears, arrows and other simi
af Weapons. L.! cal wing they display
great ingenuity, and while the figures
as shown on the paddles are not cX-
ac'iy pretty, they are very intricate,
ahd are not unlike similar work done
in hina. The figures on the paddIc
represent idols, and acrordi,4g TO the
Islanders belief, if upon his boat pad
dlc there IS carved n figure OF an idol
he can safely navigate unvw here. In
TINS connection it may be well TO state
THAT these islanders arosthe bolIc>t and
most Skllliul canoe uavigaturs in the
Pacific. They make VOYAGES extend
!n@ over many months, trusting To
them with fresh water. They navigate
by means Of a chart composed of small
sticks tied together and representing
tie position OF the various islands as
regards the point Of departure.
In warfare their weapons consist of
clubs, spears and arrows, all OF which
thcp use with the greatest skill and
accuracy. The clubs are made of
IRONY ood, and arc very heavy. They
are OF various shapes, the most muir
uGrouS being The gnarled root Of the
lronwood tree. The other clubs arc of
nghtcr character. The arrows are
maHc Of light bamboo, the points being
OF lronw"od. The spears are also
matIc out Of the same. kind of timber
and run down to a fine point, which is
uppcd with poisonous preparation.
The feather end is fantastic and .audv,
a regular bouquet Of feathers pluckcd
nom the rarc,t birds being used and
blended together with strict regard
for colOrs.
ihe Islanders, particularly in the
Nlrlnlty OF New Ireland, have no par
tlcui"r love for the whites, and il is
NOT an lnircqucmt occurrence to iind
some settler lying in front Of his door
ucau. 1t Is the work Of some native
who, having become utlordcd ,t tLn
white man. has lain in wniI ma I.i,inJ ir,I
him. y
Asa race thrv arc vnr,, ,,ro1i,,, o,,,
it is not mn uucommon ,h;n,t e, ti,.' NI,.
GRAY states. 70 see from, 1irt1n, 80
twenty .chiIi1rnn IN n,cl, hn,ci n'tIr" ~
>prium of ono wnnon Tho I;,,i,o ,,,I Uii
do not tolerate nnlvm,n,r o,,n i'',i,o w. .
marriacc the womrn ,rr I,m,nr' @ ''ro, ro,.
their fidelity. A snrt nr y sin,,o i.o" tnotra tHl
exists thro,ivhont tho ;eInrds E,r,'in' 'iiiO
and sinple women ron ha nnrrInSn, ,,rIE -,
for scrvauts and cnncuh;nn. fn. ,,,,'.u
rrne. Clothino j. thinn u,,i,n" ~, - '''';u
most Of 1hc i$7onGs IL ",IM'' omd " ",,, ~ 80
New Britain and i,.oIamd ''",' hn,,.",.nr .'D"u'
the brcrch-cloth is u.rI ~ N'N''
-- ----s,.-.l"'--.--
~ WAsInNGroN corrcspondcnt to
the New York T.iJvue il q rncnrt
article, in speaking of the torir en,.c.
Speaker Carlisle is inclined to take :,
hopeful view of thr urnsnrrts nf to,iG
lie is reported a, c,ljmaIimv ,h5t rSHt nMt
more ihan fifteen Drmnrrnt9 viii ,,n,,
lyoirt thn 6il yL;Io .,.a,,,. g.: :,