The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-26

one morning, when the lookout reported
land on the weather. bow, Capt Tanning
Immediately put his helm down and
sailed off to inspect his new discovery.
The vessel had but just crossed the
EQUATOR; there were no known islands
within hundreds ofsniles; so, naturally,
the shippers curiosity was aroused His
surprise was increased when he found
himself approaching1a a. large, -oval-shaped
atoll, rising like a low green bank out
of the tropical sea- A landing was eff
fected without much difficulty, the boats
crew, armed to the teeth, being ever on
their guard against an attack by the
presumably feroeious inhabitants of this
lovely spot. Yet the expected onslaught
never came, though the island proved ex-
tremely fertile, its rich soil covered with
a dense growth of 4eocoanut palms and
pardahus trees. There was food enough
to support a large population but not "a
soul appeared from ont the dense scrub
which lined the beach; The atoll was de-
serted, andsto this day the fate OF the
original Inhabitants of the flaming island
fe11lafhs a. Inysterytr Near byCapt. aF1an-r
ming discovered another and smaller
island, which he cafled Washington. 1t
does not SEEM to have occurred to him
to take possession OF the islands in the
name of the United States; the policy of
expansion had not yet become fashion
able, and such isolated dots in the ocean
were not considered worth the bother Of
anneXing.
FIRST SETVTT FTP
Nor did any other nation want Tanning
Eislands and for a long time 1t was left
alone. Now and again New Bedford
| Wflaler, numbering about the Pacific in
search of sperm, would visit it to fill her
water casks. and lay in a sea stock of
-cocoanuts. But except FOR these rare in
cursions the resGptces of the place were
absolutely neglected aHntit the first half
Of the century was near its close Then
| English, made his home there, and. get
ting a few faborerS from other islands,
started the TnanA9acfaa of cocoanut oil.
In these days. HenDre9 had heard of copra,
the dried Kernel OF ithe cocoanut. The
only known way pf Utilizing the rich
meat of the nut ygaSS to convert it into
oil tedious ana eNRstefuI process.
Capt. English :Hrsspered, as indeed he
could hardly help5fstig with fertile soif
and lux,iriant tr6pfcaf cline to aid him.
He tended the peIIgNs already growing,
| laid out fresh pfaffea Efons wherever need
ed, stocked the -fslaIrd with cattle, and
pigs and poultry, traded with whalers,
| and sold many SaskF of oil at the high
| price then prevg1ffng1 The place became
| important enough to attract the attention
| of the British government, ever on the
watch for new possessions. Capt. Eng
| fish, too, realized that his planta tons
| would be more secure if they were under
| the protection OF strong power, sc when
| the Dido visited the group in 1855, the
| Union jack was hoisted and the place has
| remained British ever since.
| The present dynasty was founded soon
! after the annexation. A wandering
! Scotchman named Gretg visited the island
J and found the place much to his liking.
He joined Capt. English in the business
| of making oil, and eventually bought him
| out, becoming the sole owner of the two
| islands, Washington and Tanning. Greig
married Penrhyn island chieftainess,
! and when he died in this city in 1892 left
| behind him seven children, among whom
| the property was equally divided.
| Thus it comes about that George w.
l~Greig, aided by one Of his brothers, rules
, absolutely over the isles of Tanning and
| Washington. He owes, certainly a nomi-
| nal allegiance to the British high commits
sioner at Fiji, but as long as things go
smoothly and the native labor is kindly
! treated, that official never interferes. 1t is
| a truly ideal state. There are no laws,
| and consequently no jails No prisoners,
| and consequently no jails. The strong
arm of the empire protects it from out
side interference, and Mr.. Greig is guar
| anteed absolute seegufity in his island
i kingdom.
/ But, though, propeSy jealous of his ter
ritorial rights. there is nothing of the
despot or tyrant ABOUT this very unas-
| Stunning young prince, who shows scarcely
trace of theiPolyl nesian blood in his
+ veins. He Is a tall, Yell-set-up, correctly
attired young H1an,nhis skin no darker
| than that of many Spaniards, his English
/ perfect, HIS frlanherSF easy. He has re-
ceived the best of educa tons, both In
Honolulu and tbs ,c6IIhtry, and long resi-
dence in his little island dominion has
not worn off the polish. Only once year
for month or So, does Mr.. Greig come in
contact with cififzat ton, but he makes
| the most of hisS6han3e a vessel is char
tered annually to bring up the produce OF
the island, and0ts fhler takes advantage
of the opportunity to visit this country
1t is significant fast that, although the
island is British all it's trade comes ia
4 San Franchises.
/ AS there is no aboriginal population. all
| the work of Tanning island has to be
done by imported labor. In that intensely
tropical climate, only three degrees north
of the line, white men, of course, cannot
stand the strain of plantation work.
About $50 black boys are employed, most
ly obtained from Rakahanga, an island
south OF the line. The men are treated
well, and prove tractable employees, rare