Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-25
CANNBALS OF TODAY.
The Savage Solomon Islander
Who Killed Won Norbeck.
CIVILIZATIONS SLOW PROGRESS,

n Finds . Hsrbidding Field Among These
Deprived Melancsians, but the Coo d
Bino Tusilite Shows That There Il seuI
Hope.
A midooean paradise peopled by human
devils!
That 10 . pretty accurate description of
the Solomon islands, whose savage inhab-
itants treacherously murdered the Aus
trian explorer, Baron Won Norbeck, and
several Of his party not long ago.
The baron was on an expedition to the
top Of the highest peak on the island, called
Lions Head, and had an officer and 80
men from the crew Of the Austrian train
ing ship Albatross with him. Most of
the route of his journey lay through the
country Of the bushmen or cannibals of
the island, and 1t was when half way ND
the mountain and almost in the center OF
the bushmen's country they were attacked.
The baron, Midshipman de Beaufort. two
sailors and native guide were killed.
Another sailor was so badly wounded that
he died a few days after reaching the ship,
and six others were severely wounded.
The Solomon Islanders are inveterate
cannibals. The practice Of eating human
hesh, once prevalent all through Polynesia,
Is as active as ever in the Solomon islands
In 1872 Captain Edward Redlick saw
there q human body cooked whole for a
meal. Other travellers state that on occa-
sions of festivity it is usual to serve as
many as 20 bodies together. The roofs of
the large aboriginal dwellings are crowded
within with tho bones of animals of all
kinds, including many human skulls.
IiEo ofhop Moloroc;,-e H., a.
landers are dwariish, with stout bodies and
limbs. Their features are coarse and ugly,
and they ara. almost or quite naked, the
women wearing an apron Of grass or palm
fiber. At the same time they are excess
lively fond of personal ndornment, particu.
larry the men, who load themselves with
laoes, girdles, ETC. The nose, ears and Inns
are pierced for the reception of ornaments
Sometimes the lobe of the ear is perforated
and stretched so as to hold an deliberately
carved disk Of mother of pearl inches
in diameter. Ornaments of astonishing
shapes and great size are hung from the
nose by piercing the septum or the wings
of that organ. For such purposes are en-
ployed circular plates of white shell over
laid with openwork Of tortoise shell. Beau
tiful necklaces are made of small shells,
porpoise teeth, and frequently human
teeth. Breastplates are covered with the
eye teeth Of dogs, which are highly esteem
ed as fetiches. A string of red, white and
black shells seven yards long Is the price
of wife
That the savage Solomon islanders are
susceptible of civilization is shown by the
case of the Rev. Bino Tusilito, an illustri-
Gus native who has accepted Christian
title and the Christian Rible md aSloptpd
tho stovepipe hat, tho clawhammer coat
and the bingham umbrella of civilization.
1t Is hoped that in time he will be brought
to adopt plaid trousers low cut waistcoat,
boiled shirt and pointed shoes-a costume
that is incompatible with cannibalism.
These Melanesians are said to be the
vainest people in the world. Often they
Sommit suicide on account of an injury r