The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-04-28
SOUTH PACIFIC sAvAGEs.
The Marshall Islanders, Their Wars, Drcss
Rites and Socinl Habits.
{ From The San Fiuncisc0 ErominerI

The inhabitants of the fan South
Pacific coast islands are in many re-
spccts strange human beings, and not
the least singular fact in 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 tho Mar
shall group of Islands, tho inhabitants
of which arc conspicuous for their
warlike propcnsitics, 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
John Hancock returned from a trading
cruise to tho Gibc and Marshall groups
and the master of the vessel, Captain
William Chapman, secured 4 valuable
collection of curiositics in the shape of
war clubs, spears, boat paddles, shells,
etc. With Captain Chapman, as a
passenger, was a young man, 5. f.
Gray, connected with the house of
"A. Crawford IL Co., of this city, who,
during his visit to tho islands, gained
much interesting information concern
ing the islands and ,hoir inhabitants.
The natives ale large and powerful.
They arc not unlike the New Zealand
ere, being Of n dark, unprecedented
complexion. In addition to II natural
inclination for warfare, they arc very
trcachcrous, and in some portions OF
the group arc cannibals. Their main
occupation il like that of the Indian,
I"nling and picking cocoanut., which
arc prepared and shipped to TIN, coun-
Try with considerable profit When
not engaged in harvesting IT, ~Icocoa-
nat crop or loatimg about on the ocean
III a dug.out canoe, the Marshall
islander puts in his time carving gro
irrquc 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 the figures
Az shown OF the paddles arc not cX-
actly pretty, they are very intricate,
and ara not unlike similar work done
in China. The figures on the paddle
represent idols, and according TO The
islanders belief, if npon his boat pad
die there is carved a figure of an idol
he can safely navigate anywhere. In
this connection it may be well TO state
that these islanders are the bOldcSt and
'h'HI SNlii'hi NailoC HaNISSlOIS III lIlt
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 n chart composed of small
sticks tied together and representing
the position of the various islands as
regards tho 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 ot
ironwood, and arc very heavy. They
are Of various shapes, the most muir
dcrous being the gnarled root Of the
ironwood tree. The other clubs are of
lighter character. The arrows arr
made of light bamboo, the point. being
of ironwood. The spears are also
made out Of tho same kind OF tinber
and run down to a fine point, which is
tipped with n poisonous preparation,
The feather end is fantastic aud saudy,
a regular bouquet Of feathers pluckcd
from the rarcst birds being used and
Blended together with y strict regard
for culOrs.
The Islanders, particularly in tn,
vicinity OF New Ireland, have no par
ticular love for the whites, and il |.
not an intrequeut occurrence TO iiut
somc settler ying in front Of his door
dead. 1t is tho work Of some native
who, having become offended at tho
white mau, has lain i'm wait and killed
him.
AS Il race they arc very prolific, ant
It is not All uncommon thing, so Mr.
Gray states, to see from fifteen tc
twenty children in cacn house, the OF
spring of one m The natives
do not tolerate polygamy, and after
marriage the woIncn arc famous ful
their fidelity. a sort Of a slave traffic
exists throughout the islands, though
and single women can be purchased
for servants and Concubincs for Il mcr,
!rific. Clothing is a thing unknown il
most of the islands. In and abou
New Britain and ireland, however
the breech-clOth is used.
A WASHINGTON correspondent t.
the New York T,"ibune in n rccen
article, in speaking Of the tariff, saws,
Speaker Carlisle IL inclined to take u
hopeful view OF the prospects of tarli
legislation ut this session of Congress
lie is reported as estimating that no
more than fifteen Democrats will vott
against the bill, while twenty-five Re
pnblicans will vote for it. hbram 5
Hewitt thinks the bill will pass, All,
so does w. l.. Scott, who has decided
TO vote for it and who is cxertins hi
influence in favor of it. To his efforts
arc attributed the rumorcd intention
of two other Pennsylvania Democrat!
Storm and Swope-to support Tn,
measure. II Is not II very pr0iuun,
secret that in his ''new DEPARTURE MIR
Scott is cheercd and strengthened b,
the sympathy and approval Of tn,
Administration. There IL pretty goot
reason to believe that in respect to The
proposed tariff Legislation Mr.. Clcvc
land does not cling tcnaciously to hi
doctrine that the Office duties of ,
President arc Essentially executive
but that, on the contrary, he not only
feels a deep interest in the success o
the tariff bill, bnt personally anC
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