The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-08-12
SOUTH SEA TRADE.
Interesting Facts Concerning the
Natives of Ruk and Ponape
Islands.

Islands.
Captain Robert Quinton, who left
here some months since in the Golden
Fleece for trading voyage to the
South Sea Islands, returned last week
via Panama. He has had some trouble
with his partners which will be settled
in court.
"San Francisco is neglecting the
opportunity for profitable trade with
the South Sea Islands," remarked
Captain Quinton to- Call reported
yesterday. "rhere is u ready market
for all sorts of supplies and any a.
mount of products to bring back which
will find ready sales"
"lhen why don't you go after the
trader" suggested the reporter.
"That is exactly what am arrang-
ing 10 do" replied the skipper. al am
negotiating now with some vessel-own-
ers and expect to fit out soon"
Captain Quinton is familiar with
nearly all the groups of the South Sea
Islands, has taken notes OF the count
ry on several voyages thither, and is
writing book descriptive of the
material interests of this liltle-known
country and not neglecting the eth.
nology, the legends, and the character
and habits of the natives. He regards
them as of Malay descent. In strong
contrast are evidences of high civil
ization and lowest barbarism. On the
Pellew Islands there is a system of fe-
male degradation far worse than is
practiced by the Chinese and Japan
csc on his coast which enters into all
families alike.
The houses are beautifully carved
inside and out, and are Invariably
painted black, white and yellow. The
only clothing worn by the natives is
a fringe of dried leaves, shaped like II
sword. There are no missionaries, ex-
cept two Spanish Franciscans, and
these have been able TO do but little or
nothing toward civilization.
We have only very small trade
with the Pellew Islands. The people
raise pigs, goats, bread fruit and taro
(Which is something like our turnip),
and from these products derive ample
food. They shoot birds with arrows
blown through bamboo tubes and are
often able to bring the game down
from the tops of good-sized trees.
In the Ruk pronounced rook)
group, the natives are engaged in fra
tricidal war. Each accuse the other of
invoking the spirits and bringing
death to the other All believe that
the evil spirits can be thus worked and
when they start on their occult mis-.
sion of death and destruction, the men
adorl themselves with young cocoa
leaves which they wear around their
necks, arms and ankles. On his last
voyage Captain Qunton saw thirteen
war canoes returning from a victorious
campaign loaded down with plumber
The canoes are made from plank
and hold from forty to fifty men. The
planks are hewed out with AIDES made
from shell and often from steel or iron
which the islanders obtain from trad
ing-vesselS. These planks are dashed
together with cocoa fiber and are rig
ged with sails made from mats.
On the Ponape Islands Captain
Quinton saw ruins of an expensive
and extensive structure whose purpose
is not known. In one place he observ
ed a wall Z feet thick and from 25 tC
SO feet high. In another a wall OIL
squared basaltic blocks 300 feet long
and within the wall huge vaults OF
dressed stone. The natives have a ira.
dition that it WAS built thousands OF
years ago by men who came there
wearing iron.
Captain Quinton gives as reason
why the South Sea Island trade has
not been fostercd by San Francisco
that the right sort of men have not
gone there. The trade requires more
than navigators. 1t needs business men
too, and he hopes to effect such &
combination very soon with good re-
; Suits San Francisco Call.