The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-03-21

DIR. J. A. Hawk, U. S. N, formerly
of this city, who is now doing duty on
the Essex" some time ago visited As
sumption Island, one of the Carolines,
and was entertained for ten days by the
missionaries upon that Island. He states
that that the following description of it
from the Manila Didrio is 10 the main
correct
The island is small, but when compared
with the others which are seen during the
voyage from Manila, and even with those
which constitute the Archipelago, 1t is
enormous. II is exceedingly fertile, its
vegetation being in direct proportion to
its size. Not foot of bare ground can
be seen anywhere, the vegetable kingdom
occupying the whole soil. 1t is surround
ed by shoals and reefs on which the waves
break in such regular cadence that the
acoustic effect is very sensible. Five
tribes occupy the territory, whose popu-
lation amounts to about 1000 natives and
fifty odd foreigners, some of them Metho-
dists, others merchants, the remainder be-
ing deserters from whalers. The island
becomes mountainous towards the in
some of which are navigable by small
craft. Its productions consist of cocoa
nuts, which grow in abundance, pines,
NANCY, bread-fluit trees and the a5e, a
tubercle very similar in taste to the
camote "a kind of Inham), but of larger
size, as some of them weigh above fifty
pounds. Lemons are also found, far SUI
perior to those of Marianas and oranges,
MI no of 40 oh
all, the celebrated vegetable ivory.
The indigenous Inhabitants of the soil
are called Kanakas, and are light cop
per-coloured race, possessing rather regu-
lar features. Their habitual clothing is
jacket called kool, made of cocoa leaves
braided together. In rainy weather, or
to protect themselves from cold, they put
on such European old clothes as they can
find. Tatooing is their chief adornment,
the yellow and blue colours predomina-
ting. Their ears are perforated, and bear
not only rings and flowers, but are also
used to carry, as pendants, their tobacco
pouches and other small objects. The
women are also tatooed, especially on the
abdominal region and on the legs, which
latter sport very fine designs resembling
embroidered stockings. They also wear
boots of red colour, which are kept on
their feet till they go to rags Both
sexes are exceedingly dirty and emit
very repugpant odour, produced by the
oily matter with which they grease their
bodies. They feed on fruits, eggs, fowls,
goats and deer, using cocoa-nut oil as
universal condiment. Marriage is.at the
husbands discretion, also divorced. The
maiden girl enjoys all sorts of freedom;
unmarried she becomes her husbands
slave. The most barbarous practice of
the Kanakas is that of partial mutilation,
which is first effected when they attain
eighteen or twenty years of age, and to-
tally when they reach from forty to fifty.
Their chiefs and the descendants Of these
wear as distinctive mark of rank,
crowns made of flowers and odoriferous
herbs, which, however, soon lose their
perfume by being absorbed by that which
is emitted by their CREASED bod lies They
generally have very good teeth.
The kings of Ascencion are five little
old men of rather repulsiye counter
ance, and disporting more clothing than
their subjects. On the occasion OF their
appearance before the Spanish authorities
they put on European clothes, and APP
peared more like rag pickers crying for
bread than kings or anything approach
ing to that rank.
The climate Of the Caroline Islands is
anything but satisfactory. Heaven is
only propitious In the copious rains and
terrific thunder storms which it dispenses
there, there being very few fine sun lit
days. The soil is, moreover, so porous,
that it readily absorbs water, and soon
becomes dry after squally thunder
storm. The climate is, however, consid-
cred healthy, as since the landing of the
Spanish troops not single man lad been
placed on the sick list.