The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-05-31
LEE IN THE PACIFIC.


|
/, tives of Horne Island.
Among the myriad islands which dot
the surface OF the South Pacific Ocean,
is little island about ten miles in
diameter, lying near tho Fiji group,
called Horne Island. Its climate and
productions are nearly similar to those
Of the Sandwich Islands. Its inhabi-
tants are dark complexioned, and are
said to be the most ferocious and savage
Of any in Polynesia. In old times they
were cannibals A correspondent gives
the following description of visit to
these interesting people several years
ago:
'On our approach, we we're immedi-
ately surrounded by twenty or thirty
canoes, filled with the most hideous-
looking wretches ever beheld. Their
hair, which is long and very coarse,
stands erect, giving them most fero-
cious appearance; and they kept up
such an unearthly yelling, being over
joyed to see us, that we finally came to
the conclusion that we had by mistake
discovered small corner of the Internal
regions After satisfying their Curl
osity and ascertaining our wants, they
Immediately returned to the shore to
satisfy them, and in short time sew
eral canoes came alongside filled with
the choicest productions of the island,
consisting of hogs fowls, yams, cocoa
nut and fruits of all kinds. Then COM
menced a trade unsurpassed by any rag
fair in Europe; but we were not a little
surprised to find that our money was Of
no value to them, and they refused to
take it, therefore regular barter com.
menced. Old shirts, handkerchiefs,
pipes, tobacco and fancy trinkets took
we'll with them.
"Our captain being an old Cape Cod
Yankee, who had been seafaring for
forty years, understood we'll what was
required for traffic with the natives, and
having, of course, come prepared for the
occasion, laid in forty hogs, two hun
dred fowls, large supply of yams,
cocoa-nuts, ETC., in exchange for what
cost him not over fifteen dollars, in tho
shape of red flannel, knives, hatcheta
and beads, 1t is quite amusing to SEQ
him bargain for his supplies, especially
the yams which grow here to a size oil
oOuC lllbCCu VI bNchuy pOuHuo. Ouu
percussion cap was to be given for one
yam, but the old sea-cook, not being
satisfied by taking small and great as
they came, would repeatedly impress
upon the natives the necessity of bring,
ing large yams, by saying: One cap,
one yam, big yam, at the same time
stretching his eyes and extending his
hands to describe the size.
lowing to the difficulty of procuring
water, the vessel was detained at the
island eight days, during which paid
frequent visits to the shore and became
quite intimate with the king and all
the nobility The king was black,
fellow, six feet six inches
in height. His entire wardrobe con-
sisted of an old flannel shirt and a Pan.
anna hat. The costume of the other
members of the family was even more
limited.
"The mode of cooking food among
these people is similar to that of the
Sandwich Islanders. They bake their
food in an oven or shallow hole dug in
the ground, in the bottom of which q fiat
stone is laid, imbedded in mud, and
when it is sufficiently heated, the Goals
are taken out and several layers of
leaves spread on the stones, after which
the yams, plantains, bananas, ETC., are
carefully laid in, and layer of leaves
laid over the whole, which is quickly
covered with earth. BY this means the
steam is confined, and vegetables cook
In very short time. When taken out
of the fiery bed smoking and eaten with
milk of the young cocoa-nut, they can
not be pronounced a bad dish "-N. Y.
Ledger.