St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-17

them to set up shop. The ruin OF this world
Is missionaries and what you call civiliza-
ton. This is nature, and / don't think read
ing and writing can improve on: her."
ALI the beach combers one meets, however,
nave not lapsed so entirely into barbarity as
has this American, though as one of our
countrymen puts it, sff16 best of them have
lost his grip on civilization" The name
'beach comber' is derived from industries
which these men have done much to stimu-
late one is that Of collecting beche de mer
along the shores, and the other is the pearl
and pearl she'll fisheries. The amount OF bust
ness done in both these branches through
out Polynesia is surprising to one unac-
quainted with it, The pearl shell trade has
been and is most profitable, and as no plant
is required, the beach combers and natives,
who take it up, can always be sure of ready
money without any outlay, for the food they
use is found in abundance on the scene of
their abors.
Vessels designed for the purpose cruise
regularly among the islands where shells are
to be found, and these are purchased at from
$50 to 500 ton, and shipped to London,
"hSAO IAOy lChoLy oIluS iiOu StUU W p fOU d
ton. Throughout the coral islands of the
tropical Pacific there are countless lagoons
from five to twenty miles in diameter, that
are literally paved with these shells. The
wonder to me is that Americans have not
seen this industry and worked it. Unlike
mining, there is no element of chance in it,
and there is constant market for all the
shells that can be produced; but up to this
time the supply has been largely de-
pendent on the uncertain energy and spas
modic efforts of the beach combers and the
natives. r. 1.ss~..s
Outside OF the business in pearl shells,
which has in it the element of certainty, and
is perhaps less fascinating to the beach
conber on that account, great deal of
money has been made and is to be made in
many of these islands in getting the pearl
oyster. I AIN informed that great numbers
of the most valuable pearls in the Pacific
fisheries are lost on account Of allowing the
women to open the shells in the water and
between their knees, when the pearls slip out
with the water and slime the shell contains
and are SO lost. The pearl oyster is I'M
douhtedly diseased, for those that have
regular shells and look wholesome never
contain pearls, while those that do are
gnarled and distorted, and the flesh is of
different color. These gems, for as such
they are classed, are said to be the finest in
the world and in diving for them women
are preferred to men. The magnificent pearl
necklace that the Empress Eugene was
forced to sell after she left Paris, came from
the Pacific island Of Tuamotus I saw one
pearl, which was bought in the Tanning
Island from native for eight yards of red
cotton print, that was sold in Sydney, Aus
tralia, for $4,000, but such bargains are not to
be picked up every day.
In all my wanderings I have met but one
beach combeI who returned to civilization.
He is now at Levuca, and if he keeps on his
present pace he will soon be dead, or forced
to return to his savage companions. This
man came into possession. but how it is not
stated, of superior pearls, which he sold for
$4,000, about one-fourth their actual value. AS
soon as he got the money he was seized with
yearning for civilization, and he came to
Levuca, which aspires to be sthe metropolis
of Polynesia" Campbell-he is Scotchman
by birth-at once proceeded to ''carminate the
town." He laid in large supply of square
face"-the local name for Holland gin-and
went out into the highways and invited or
forced white men and natives to come in and
drink with him. He has been in the lookup
six times, has reduced his surplus consider
ably in the way of fines, and has laid, as a
physician told me, ga very fine foundation for
a case of delrium tremens."
The love for liquor and tobacco is the one
ofxy az,
no matter how long their stay, and which
seems to be transmitted to their descend
ants. If in their beach combing they make
money, it is for the sole purpose Of buying
alcohol in some form and keeping on
carouse till the money is gone. The beach
comber is down on the missionary, but he has
an intense admiration for the trader who
brings him gin.
The beach comber is undoubtedly pictur-
esque character, as is the desperate of our
own frontier settlements or the lank and
armed mountaineer of the Southern States,
and he is as entirely worthless, lawIess and
undesirable. Properly managed these men
might be made most important factors in the
development of the vast resources of Poly
nesia; but left to themselves, their influence
on the natives IS degrading in the extreme,
and every day they are making it more and
more difficult to spread that higher and
better civilization-that does not mean
mere money getting-which must inevitably
come.
story is told of an American ship
captain who was at Pango- Pango some
years ago, when white man, dressed in
native mats, came on board and asked to be
taken away.
''What countryman are you?" asked the
Yankee.
can Englishman," was the reply.
"Well,'' drawled the captain, 81 pity you
not a little, but I can't take you away. How
ever, here's a sheath-knife and plug of
James River tobacco, of which make you
present. But if you'd been an American, I'd
have triced you up and given you dozen
with ropes end"
'Why, whatd you want to do that for?"
asked the beach comber.
because, if you'd been q citizen of the
great United States, I'd counted you
disgrace to humanity for running loose
among lot of native savages. But seeing
you're Britisher, and that there isn't room
for all of you in your little, over-crowded
country, pity you from the bottom of my
soul-indeed, do"
In the immense empire governed by the
Gear of Russia, sixty languages are spoken.
This fact must forever prove barrier to the
unifcation of the Russian people, should
they ever desire a broader liberty.
Doctor n SQrpapt nf fho Hapoiprou