Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-18
WARDS or JAPAN.
Natives of Island of Eormosa Hard
10 suhhmc.


The japanese will accomplish n task
hitherto deemed hopeless II they sue
coed In subdulng the tribes of sayages
and dwarfs which inhabit the interior
OF their newly acquired Island of For
mosa These wild people have main
tanned their Independence for centuries,
refusing to be civilized or submit to
the yoke OF the foreign invader,
They dwell In the Businesses Of the
mountains. and some VI them are head
hunters Bags OF n peculiar network
are manufactured BY them expressly
for the purpose Of carrying heads Sc
cured In their warlike trays. one of
their chiefs when ABOUT to be executed
by the Chinese SAID: u nave no fear
OF death; 1 have taken ninety-four
heads and only wanted six more to
make the hundred
These savages are Of Malay stock.
They say that they did not belong
originally In Formosa and describe
their origin by pointing to the south
and showing copies Of the canoes In
which their ancestors are alleged to
have arrived. Their garb ranges from
nudity to gayly colored gar
ments OF their own weaving, made from
the lbres OF the banana and ramie
plants. They tattoo their faces and
build elegant huts OF bamboo. over the
doorways of which are hung as trophies
sometimes tufts OF Chinamen's pig
tails.
Its only in their territory. which
strangers rarely dare 10 invade, that
the camphor-boaring laurel grows.
Consequently the camphor can only be
obtained with their consent. and money
IL paid 10 the chiefs TO refrain from
destroying the distilllng plants set up
in their country. Nevertheless, trou-
BILE frequently arises and the stills are
constantly being destroyed.
Several European Arms are engaged
IN the camphor trade and they nego-
tiate with the savnges through the
Intervention OF the semi-civilized
Hakkas, or Hillmen. They make adj
vances TO the Hlllmen on condition
that the latter shall set mp a certain
number OF stills and supply monthly
n fixed amount Of camphor at a price
agreed upon.
Formosa is 1886 miles long and 75 miles
wide, being as big as SARDINIA and Corr
alca rolled into one. Estimates OF the
population vary from 2,0O0.OO0 TO b.
100000, because the number OF aavages
81 unknown. The soil Ia bursting with
fairness. ind nowhere Is n finer quality
Of tea produced. II is great piDeap-
pie country, and beautiful fbre Is
obtained from the leaves OF that plant.
The eastern half of the island IL COW
cred with 1ungles. In which grows the
valuable creeper called rattan.
FormoEa " a part OF the great orchi-
pelago which includes the Philippines,
long possessed and misgoverned by
Spain. In Japan's newly acquired
island have been found skulls and
skeletons OF people who belonged 10
race OF black dwarfs. doubtless exter-
minated there by the MalayH. Pigmies
OF the same race stili inhablt the Phil
ippines. They were called Negritoa or
Little Negroes, by the early Spanish
settlers. some of the smaller islands
were entirely peopled by them. They
called themselves Aetas; they are ac-
ana average only four feet and seven
inLhes In height.
They are distinct from Ehy other
known people. Though no tiny. they
are very muscular using with ease
bows which tho ltrnnxssi white man