The morning call., 1893-08-02
SOUTH SEA TRADE.
How San Francisco Has
Neglected 1t.
Interesting Facts Concerning the
Natives of Ruk and Ponape
Islands.

captain ROBERT gum ton, VINO lett mere
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 neglectipg her opPor-
tunity for a profitable trade with the
South Sea Islands," remarked Captain
Qulnton to CALL reporter yesterd ay
There is ready market for all sorts Of
supplies and any amount of products to
bring back which will find ready sales"
Then why don't you go after the
trade?" suggested the reporter.
THAT is exactly what l am arranging
to do" replied the skipper. II am nego-
tiating now with some vesse-owners and
expect to De able to fit out soou."
Captain Quintou is familiar with nearly
all the groups of the South Sea Islands,
has taken notes of the country on several
voyages thither, and is writing a book
descriptive of the material interests Of
this litiIe-known country and not neglect
ing the ethnology. the legends. and the
character and habits of the natives. He
regards them as of Malay descent. In
strong contrast are evidences OF high
civilization and of lowest barbarism. On
the IGIIeW lSlduuS lH0Tf Is q system Ol
female degredatiOn far worse than is
practiced by the Chinese and the Japanese
on this coast which enters ia to 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 fringe of dried leaves,
sionaries, except two Spanish FraDciscans.
and these have been able TO do little or
nothing toward civilization.
We have only very small trade with
the Pellew Islands. The people raise pigs.
goats, Dreadfruit and taro (Which is
netting 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-siz-d trees.
In the RuK pronounced rook) group. the
natives are now engaged in frasricidal war.
Each accuses the other of invoking the
spirits and bringing death to the other.
All believe that evil spirits can be thus
worked aud when they start on their oc-
cult mission of death and destruction. the
men adOrn themselves with young cocoa
leaves which they wear around their necks,
arms and ankles. On his last voyage Cap
tain Quenton saw thirteen war canoes re-
turning from 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 adzes made from shell
and often from steel or iron, which the
islanders obtain from trading-veSsels.
These panks are la he'd together with
cocoa fiber and are rugged with sails made
from mats.
On the Ponape Islands Captain Quinton
saw ruins of an expensive and ex ensive
structure whose purpose is not known.
In one place he observed wall feet
thick and from 25 to 80 feet high. In an
other a wall Of squared basaltc blocks 300
feet long. and within the wall huge vaults
of dressed stone. The natives have ira
dition that the structures were built thou
sands of years ago by men who came
there wearing iron.
Captain Quinton gives rs a reason why
the South Sea Island trade has not been
fostered by San Francisco thatl 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
pond rosulfc