The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-13
BACK IN ENGLAND
A Travelled Christian Late Of
Hawaii Mel Reports.
HE VISITED STRANGE ISLAND
Made Extensive ExpIorations-Lis
of Key Words-In Samoa-Ead
Letter to Gen. Blanco.

The London Times tells of the re-
turn to England from the Caroline ISL
ands Of Frederick w. Christian, who
has q very interesting account to give
of his investigations there, as we'll as
in other island groups of the Pacific
| Mr.. Christian was educated at Elton
and Oxford: some nine years ago he
left England for Australia and found
. himself in a position to realize his
ambition OF exploring the area of the
lso-called MalayOPolynesian tribes. He
stayed nearly three years in Samoa
!. studying the language and customs of
: the peoples, especially those who are
furthest removed from the settle
ments OF the white man. He bought
some land IN the valley of the Vaisin-
gano River, near 2. L. StevensOn's
. plantation at VaiIna. Stevenson prov
; ed himself the very best of neigh0Ors,
the kindlest OF entertainers. OF his
: society and sympathy and hospitality
Mr.. Christian entertains the most
pleasing recollections. On his depart
> ure for Tahiti and the Marquesas, Ste
: venson took over his little plantation
and experimental nursery of economi
cal plants at a most generous figure.
The Forest Department Of New South
Wales, in exchange for some packets
of Samoan seeds, had forwarded Mr..
. Christian quantities Of the seed of
!, valuable Australian economic trees
) OF the black butt, stringy bark. golden
) waffle and various kinds of eucalyptus
which throve excellentiy in the rich
soil under the care Of his right hand
man, a carefully trained Tongan ISL
ander. TupOn Of Vayau
In Tahiti and the Marquesas Mr.
Christian spent two years carefully
and infinitely studying and noting
down the language, the genealogtes.
folklore and traditions OF a kindly,
hospitable and singuIarly interesting
folk. Soon after his return to Sydney
Mr.. Christian met that remarkable
ULYSSES of Pacific waters, Louis Becke
On his advice he determined single
handed to visit Spanish Micronesia
and obtain some further and minuter
ruins reported to exist upon Donate or
Ponape and Lele, two islands lying
further TO the eastward of the extern
sive Caroline chain, BY the kind Off
ces Of Sir Stewart Lockhart, Colonial
Secretary, and Sir William Robinson
the Governor OF H0ngkong, Mr.. Chris
tian received letters of introduction
ic-I,
Governor OF the Philippines. who in
turn furnished him with introductions
10 the two deputy Governors on zap
and POnape-the respective seats of
government in the Western and East
ern Carolines. The results of Mr.. Chris
ttian's explorations were as follows:
A Pampanga native. since executed
by the Spanish for Joining the late
Philippine rebellion, took some 80
photographs in the districts of Xiii
lU, Metalanim, Not and Chokach
(wrOngly styled Jekoits and Jokoits in
the present charts. The walled islets
of Nan-Matal, the mysterious Venice
OF Micronesia, were explored and map
ped out fairly accurately. The phone
sis OF very many native names and
their spelling were changed from
meaningless jargon to their correct ma
tive renderings and accompanying sig
nifcations. He also made excavations
in the central vault of the sanctuary
OF Nan-Tanach, bringing TO light a
considerable number of curious tools,
implements and shell ornaments of an
ancient date. Many of the old native
legends and fairy tales were rescued
from oblivion; this slowly and with
difficulty, for there is much of a cross
grained reticence in the Ponapean
character to be overcome only by min
gled patience and perseverance, Some
new information was obtained about
the fora and marien life of the archi-
pelago.
| The former presence OF an early Ne
critic race, conquered and absorbed or
oVerlapped by later waves of Polyne-
sian Immigrants, was fairly establish !
ed. Also evidence was collected as to
the obtrusion OF many Japanese words |
upon the Micronesian area. This was |
| deliberately demonstrated by an ex-
haustive list OF $50 English key words |
nouns, verbs and adjectiyes-in the |
various Micronesian dialects. IN this |
Mr.. Christian followed the example OF |
| Codrington. Turner and Wallace, who |
published lists OF keywords on SINH
lar plan, grouping and comparing side
by side the languages of the Melane-
sian, Polynesian and Indonesian or
Malayan areas.
Mr.. Christian returned home by way
OF New Zealand, Honolulu and the