The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-22

Am Interesting People Who Inhabit Trop-
ical Islands In the South Pacific.

AN interesting People VINO Ennab1C 1rop-
ical Islands In the South Pacific.
San Francisco Bulletin.
A gentleman who has visited many OF the
put-of- the-way corners of the world gives the
following account of q group OF south oea
Islands that are rarely visited by white men;
There is q of people living almost exactly
squidistant between the two continents OF
America and Asia, who. though they dwell IN
the tropics and are not far distant from lands
which are types of the luxurtousness OF vege-
tation, the abundance OF moisture, ana the va
riety OF scenery associated generahy WIN Tue
equatorial regions of the world, stiii nave no
words in their primitive language for such
natural features as a river. stream, lake. pond,
spring. or other body of fresh water, or Tor
mountain bill valley, plain, crsg, or bluff; for
meadow pasture. field, or erass-plst OF any
kind; for any four-footed snimal-save. perhaps,
q species of rat; for any land bird; for but two
or three flowers or fruits, and for no minerals
or rnesals simplv because none of these physical
features belong to their land None OF the fauna
and fora, so common elsewhere, are indigenous
70 that country -
This singular region 10 now called the "Gil-
bert islands" formerly known as the kings
mill Group" and locally as the "Radick Chain
Of Coral Atolls They lie between l15o and
l77o W. and % S. and 30 n. of the equator
On the isothermic charts they are encircled by a
line of their own. within which prevails the
highest average Temperature of any spot in the
world, not that IL seems to be very hot there,
but the temperature varies but little night or
day. winter or summer.
lying close to each other in a long chain.
ming nearly north and south. Each island is
maze entirely Of coral built, probably, vol
canc peaks which either the remains of a
.sunken continent or the highest point of areas
of slowly rising land. Whichever hypothes is
correct, there these wonderful islands are
thousands Of miles distant from the nearest i'm
portant bodies Of land, each lying-to quote
Prof. Danas words in his Coral and Coral
Islands"-'1ke wreath thrown upon the
water" in the illimitable waste of the Pacific
The Gilbert Islanders. while probably nearly
related TO the Hawaiians, are not their equals
physically or mentally. Still they are fine
looking people, and among them may be fourd
many specimens of manly and womany beauty:
There Is no difficulty In noting their physical
characteristics, as the ordinary clothing OF
the 10 a short mat wrapped around the
middle, and of the women thick fringed belt
tied about the hips just below the waist Some
times the femaes-the older ones-are further
screened by q child careessly thrown over the
back riding astride 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 the white strangers
The young girls often coquettishly screen
their heads and necks-from the suu-with
broad fans simply braided from a palm leaf.
One article OF dress they much affect are pretty
little models OF woman's bonnet of the coal
scu;tle" pattern. These are not worn on the
head, where they would look ridiculous. being
only big enough for a small doll, but fast
ened to their coal black, glossy hair, which is
very abundant and of which they are very vain.
This rather scant costume is completed by
suspendine about the neck fiat disk cut from
pearly she'll, but that this is not strictly an es-
sential part OF their dress proven by their
taking off and giving us several OF tnem-for
tobacco!
The crowd that mustered on the beach
landed noisy and curious. but good nat
uredly When, happened In a few in
stances, they were not accustomed to at near
view OF white" men. they-the young witches
of girls especially-indulged in much rlerriment
a. uncouth appearance. They made great
fun. our interpreter told us, of the heavy
''homes," (broad -leafed hats) we wore. of
being wrapped up in clothes, and of our feet be-
ing cased in little canoes (our shoes so thai we
could hardly wade through the loose, dry sand.
Bnt when from the pockets OF our ''loose skins
we drew plugs of tobacco their ridicule changed
to respectful admiration, and hundred little
attentions were paid us They knew what to-
bacco was, and coveted it.
The Gilbert islanders manage to have a good.
deal of fun. Being 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 moonlight nights. What they can't
do in and under the water isn't worth attempt
ing In the serious business of fishing. too,
they are up to all sorts of tricks. man will
provide himself with q lot Of water-tight cocoa
nut shells floats. and from each he suspends
three or four short lines armed with ishhooks
made out of sharp fish bones. These he takes
in his canoe and, going out a little way, bats
his hooks and sets the shells floating about
Soon he will see one bob and whirl around and
then sli piping overheard he disappears under
the water for time. While down he goes from
float to float detaching the fish from the hook,
slowing them ia net hung around his neck,
bats the hooks from a supply he carries in his
mouth, and eventually returns to his canoe
with his net crowded full All this he does
without taking breath, apparently.
At times they will discover some SPOT in the
lagoon where shark has established himself.
They will feed him for day or two with mix
ture OF fish and cocoanut me at til he is gorged.
Then, calling the village to help in the sport.
thick rope or cocoanut fibre is laid along the
beach, the noosed end being carried out
in canoe until over the sleeping brute.
One man then slides overheard and, quietly
descending. manages to slip the moose over the
wha -lrfo A.f orA Atnhk n1a hasr
done, the signal is given. and the crowd of vii
layers, chanting merrily, tramp over the beach
with the rope, the infatuated but helpless shark
Ia dragged backward on to the shore and there
dispatched with clubs. 1t is great fun for the
sim pie minded natives.