The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-24
INTERESTING PEOPLE
WHO INHABlT TROPICAL ISLANDS
IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
Natives Of the Gilbert Islands - Many
Specimens of aianIy and WomsnIy
Beautv-A Curious Cr0wd-At Home in
the Water-A shark.

| the Water-A shark.
A gentleman who has visited many OF
the ont of the way corners of the world
gives the following account OF group OF
South sea islands that are rarely visited
| by white men:
| There is It race of people living almost
exactly cquidistant between the two con-
tineuts of America and Asia, who, though
they dwell in the tropics and are not far
| distant from lands which are types OF the
| righteousness of vegetation, the abund-
ance Of moisture and the variety OF scen-
cry associated generally with the equa-
| torial regions of the world, still have no
words in their primitive language for
such natural features as river, stream,
lake. pond, spring or other body of fresh
water: or for mountain, hill valley, plain,
crag or bluff: for a meadow, pasture, field
or grass plat of any kind; for any four footed
animal, save, perhaps, Il species OF rat;
| for any land bird; for but two or three
, flowers or fruits, and for no minerals or
metals, simply because none Of these
physical features belong 10 their land.
None Of the fauna ana fora so common
elsewhere are indigenous 10 that country.
This singula: region is now called the
colbert Islands," formerly known as tho
.'Kingsmill Group and locally, a. the
"Radick Chain" of Coral Atolls They
lie between 175 degs. and ~ degs. W.
and , degs :. and so minis y Of tho
equator. On the isotherlnic charts they
are cncirclel by line OF their own, with
in which prevails the highest average
temperature OF any spot i'll the world, not
| that it seems 10 be very hot there, but
the temperature varies but little night or
| day. winter OF summer
The group is made up Of some fifteen
Islands lying close 10 each other in long
cnain, running nearly north and south.
| Each island is made of coral, built, prob
ably. on volcanic peaks, which are either
| the remains Of a sunken continent or the
highest point of areas Of slowly rising
land. Whichever hypothesis is correct
there, these wonderful islands are thou
sands of miles distant from the nearest
| important bodies of land each lying--to
quote Professor Dana's words in his
Coral and Coral Islands - like a
! wreath thrown upon the water" IN the
llimitable waste Of the Pacific.
Tie Gilbert Islanders, while probably
nearly related 10 the HaWaiians, are not
their equals physically or mentally. stu
they are a iino looking people, and among
them may be found many specimens OF
manly and womanly beauty. There is no
difficulty in noting their physical charac-
| terist.cs, as the ordinary clothing" Of
| the men is q short mat wrapped around
the middle, aud Of the women q thick
| frDged belt tied about the hips just below
the waist. Sometimes the females-the
older ones-are further screened by
child carelessly thrown over the back or
riding astridc of one hip, but this is only
done when the bowling youngsters refuse
TO be left behind when the villagers rush
to the beach to sec the white strangers.
The Young girls often coquettishly
screen their heads and necl;s-frOm the
sun with broad fans simply braided from
a palm leaf One article Of dress they
much affect are pretty little models OF
woman'5 bonnet OF the local scuttle"
pattern. These are not worn on the head,
where they would Loo; ridiculous being
only big enough for small doll but are
| fastened TO their coal black, glossy hair,
which is very abundant, and OF which
they are very vain.
This rather scant costume IS completed
by suspending about the neck fiat disk
| cut from q pearly shell, but that this is
| not strictly an essential part Of their dress
was proven by their taking of and giving
lis several Of them-for tobaccol
The crowd that mustered on the beach
as we landed was noisy and curious, but
good naturally so When, as happened
| in @ few instances, they were not accus.
| toned TO a near view Of white men,
| they--the young witches of girls especially
| -indulged in much merriment at our un-
couth appearance. They made great fun.
our interpreter told Us, of the heavy
"homes" broad leafed hats we wore, of
| our being wrapped up in clothes, and Of
our feet being cased in little canoes (our
shoes, so that we could hardly wade
through the loose dry sand
| But when from the pockets of our
loose skins" we drew plugs Of tobacco,
their ridicule changed to respectful adj
| miration, and Il hundred little attentions
were paid us They knew what tobacco
| vas, and coveted il.
| The Gilbert Islanders manage 10 have
| good deal OF fun. Being as much at home
| in the water as they are on what land
they have, they all-big and little-go in
bathing at all hours Of the day and moon
| light nights. What they can't do in and
| under the water isn't worth attempting.
In the serious business of fishing, too,
they are up 10 all sorts Of tricks. A man
will provide himself with lot Of water
tight cocoanut shells as floats, and from
each he suspends three or four short lines
armed with fish hooks made out Of sharp
| fish bones. These he takes in his canoe,
| and, going out little way. bats his
hooks and sets the shells floating about.
Soon he Will see one bob and whirl
around, and then, slipping overheard, he
| disappears under the water for time.
While down he goes from float TO float,
detaching the fish from the hook, slowing
| them into a net hung around his neck;
| bats the hook from supply he carries in
his mouth, and eventually returns to his
canoe with his net crowded full AL this
he does without taking breath, appar-
emily.
AT times they will discover some SPOT
in the lagoon where shark has estab-
lished himself They WI feed him for
day or two with mixture OF fish and