The Press., 1897-04-22
SAVAGE ISLANDERS.
THE MAN EATING NATIVES OF THE
 ISLAND OF GUADALCANAR.

ISLAND OF GUADALcANAR.
 Hostile Mountain Tribes That Prevent the
 Exploration of Territory That the span-
 ish Discovered Over Three Hundred
 Years Ago-Persistent MT. woodford.
 A few years ago the English and the Germans divided tho beautiful group of the Solomon islands between themselves and then looked around to sec if their new acquisition was really worth any, thing. They decided that the islands were lovely to the eve and good enough to keep, but that the natives were the widest and most untamable savages they had ever met. It was all mans life was worth to venture among them. A gunboat or two have been kept in the neighborhood of late years. but these have not prevented the head hunters and cannibals from Topping off white mans head on every convenient occa- sion.
 The scene of the latest native exploit is the large island of Guadalcanar. Sev- eral members of an Austrian scientific expedition, while climbing the noun tain known as the Lions Head early in August 1896, were attacked by the bushmen or island natives. Five of the party were killed and six were wound ed, including two guides and some sail ors. A simultaneous attack was made upon the climb bers and the small party they had left in camp below. Of course the natives were no match for guns, and they were soon driven into the bush, but not before they had inflicted terrible loss. Among the killed was Baron von Norbeck.
 The Lions head is in the very heart of the island, being almost equidistant beween the sides and ends of Guadal- canar. No white man had ever been there before. No white man had ever penetrated the interior before except MT. c. M. Woodford, and he went only about 15 miles inland, ascending the Aola river. Then he had to turn back for excellent reasons, in which the na- tives were concerned. But we must not forget poor Benjamin Boyd, who disap- peared among the coast woods and was never seen again. It is said that this we'll to do Briton intended to declare the island annexed to his country on the strength of his landing there. At any rate he landed with his shotgun and said he was going to shoot a mess of pigeons, and that was the last that was ever seen of poor Ben Boyd. For some years presents were made to the coast natives marked "B. B" " and "Ben Boyd, we are looking for you," but nothing was ever heard of his fate. .-I- T. and 40 wide, and it is one of the south ern Solomons, in the British territory. A large map has been made of it, chief Jy white, for all that it shows is the coasts, the mouth of the rivers, the mountains that can be seen from the sea, and the two little rivers that Wood ford has explored. All the rest is blank. Lions head is prominent feature, and it is estimated to be $500 feet high. In 1886 Mir. Woodford attempted to | reach Lions head, but was prevented | by the hostility of these mountain tribes, who brought the Austrian party to grief, aud by the timidity of his guides. But he lived six months among the coast natives at the little town of | Aola. By means of most liberal pres | ents he made 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 | he 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 modified, 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 Solomon group must be constantly on his guard. If he attempts to go inland and ascend a mountain, his life is hard. ly worth purchasing, even though 8 man-of war may be lying in a neigh boring harbor ready to burn a dozen l villages any harm IS QOn0. InlS 1E the mistake the Austrian party made. The natives are very superstitious about the mountain tops. Some dread object, huge fish or clam or a devil, always lives there, and woe will betide the whole island if his peace is disturbed.
 Cannibalism is very common, and bodies are hawked about for sale from | town to town. Not a few white traders and natives coming to the Solomon is- lands on vessels have been killed solely for their heads, for all these natives, like many other savages in the Pacific, regard collection of human heads as 8 treasure beyond price. Men-of war al. ways visit the coast after these murders, but they are usually unable to capture the culprits, as the natives invariably retire into the bush when they see 8 warship coming. Awhile ago the Eng. fish did catch one of the murderers. They got together large crowd of the natives, and most impressively shot the criminal, but no deep moral effect seems to have been produced
 In 1888 MT. Woodford again visited the islands, and again he failed to reach the mountains of Guadalcanar. The Austrians reached the mountains, but paid terrible price for it. So these is lands, discovered by the Spanish more than 300 years ago, are still almost as little known, excepting their coast lines as the antarctic continent New York Sun.
 The Nutritious Marrow.
 A grateful mother has just told of thu