The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-09
SAVAGE ISLANDERS.
T4E NAN EATING NATIVES OF THE
ISLAND or oUAOkLcaNkR.

ISLAND OF GUAOkLcaNkR.
Hostile Nountsin Tribes That Prevent the
ExnIera.isn of Territory That the spAD-
ssh Diaoovcred Over Three -5undrsd
Years Aeo-Persistent Mr.. woodford.
A few years ago the English and the
Germans divided the beautiful group Of
lhe solomon slauds between themselves
ana then locked around TO see if their
1ts-- aeIuisi.ion was really worth any
thing. They decided that the islands
were lovely TO the eve and good enough
10 keen, but that t.,e natives were the
widest and most untamable savages
they had ever met. It was all a mans
life was worth to venture among them.
) vanboat OF two have been kept in the
usi-hborhood Of late years. but these
have not prevented the head hunters and
oanuibals from hopping OF a white
mans head on every convenient occa-
SION.
The scene of the latest native exploit
is the large island of GuadalcaDar. Sew
eral members Of an Austrian scientific
expedition, while climbing the noun
tain known as the Lion Head early IN
August. 1896. were attacked by the
h1shuen or island natives. Five Of the
rartv were killed and SIX were wound
81. including two guides and some sail
crs. : simultaneous attack was made
uDon the climbers and the small party
they had left in camp below. OF course
the natives were 10 match for guns,
and they were soon driven into the
bush. but not before they had inflicted
terrible loss. Among the killed was
Baron Won Norbeck.
The Liens head Is in the very heart
OF tie island, being almost equidistant
bewoen the sides and ends Of Guadal-
cancr. no white man had ever been
there before. 70 white man had ever
penetrated the interior before except
Nr. c. L. Wo0dfoTd, and he went only
about - miles inland, ascending the
Aola river. Then he had 10 turn back
for excellent reasons. IN which the ma
1 Ffvcs were concerned. But we must not
. f-rgat 7oor Benjamin Boyd, who disap-
peared among the coast woods and was
never seen again II Is said that this
ven 70 % Briton intended 10 declare
to- islc-d annexed 10 his country on
t ..-e,.zta Of his landing there. At
any ra-e be landed with his shotgun
ana said l.o was going TO shoot a mess
q pigeons, ard that was the last that
was ever seen OF poor Ben Boyd. For
some yg--s presents were made TO the
cC-st r2tivoS marked ''B. B. - and ben
Bord, we are looking for you, but
noting vas ever heard of his fate.
The island Is about so miles long
ard 80 VIDE. and it Is one IF the south
ern Soi1mols, II the British territory.
Il la-Ca map has been made Of it, chief
Is white, lcr al that II shows Is the
coasts, the mouth Cf the rivers, the
mountains that can be seen from the
sea. and the two little rivers that Wood
ford HIS explored. All the rest is blank.
Lions head Is a prominent feature, and
il Is estimated TO be $500 feet high.
In 1856 Mr. Woodford attempted to
reach Lions head, but was prevented
hy the --~-tility Of these mountain
tribes who brought the Austrian party
70 grief, aud by the timidity OF his
guides Bat he lived six months among
the coast natives at the little town Of
A0la By means Of most liberal pres
ents he mace friends with the natives
there. They never stole anything from
his hut, and he often induced them to
accompany him ON small trips into the
country.
The people living inland usually ran
into the bush when they saw him COM
ing but their fears were allayed by his
+ native friends, who would shout that
be was a good white man who bought
butterflies, birds, snakes and stone axes
and measured the water But the peo-
PIE of the mountains still farther in
land could not be mollified, and all his
attempts TO reach Lions head and the
still higher mountain of Lammas re-
suited in failure. The farther he and
his coast natives went up the river Aola
in their canoes the more timid his es-
cort became. They rounded every bend |
IN the river with spears poised and keep |
ing a good lookout
ANY white man on the coasts of the |
his guard. IF he attempts 10 go inland |
and ascend Z mountain, his life Is hard
Il wcrth purchasing. even though a
man-of.war may be lying in neigh |
boring harbor ready to burn q dozen |
Villages # any harm is done. This is |
the mistake the Austrian party made.
The natives are very superstitious about |
the mountain tops. Some dread object, |
hage fish OF clam or a devil, always |
lives there, and woe viii betide the |
whole islard if his peace is disturbed
Canniballsm Is very common, and |
boz .es are hawked about fer sale from |
town 10 town. Not few white traders |
Tnd natives coming to the Solomon is /
lands Oh vessels have been killed solely /
s0r their heads. for all these natives,
bike many other savages in the Pacific.
regard a collection Of human heads as a
treasgre beyond price. Men-of-war al
ways visit the coast after these murders,
but they a-e usually unable 10 capture
the culprits, as the natives invariably /
retire into the bush when they see a
varship coming. Awhile ago the Eng
slish did catch one Of the r1urderers
They got together large crowd Of the
natives, and most impressively shot the
criminal, bat no deep moral effect seems
10 have been produced.
IL 1883 III. Woodford again visited
the islands, and again he failed TO reach
the mountains Of Guadalcanar. The
Ausfrians reached the mountains, but
paid q terrible price for II. SO these is
la:-1s, discovered by the Spanish more
.thaa 500 years ago, are still almost as
.little known. exceTft--- t..eir coast lines,
.-s TIE antarctic C,,lilaeat-New York
sur.
Cons--te-.sy.
She was Jast . yez-s cid, but she was
capable Of emotions g.-5I in their IL
tensity would strain the capacity Of