Morris tribune., 1901-04-13
"A FIND ON
THE BEACH
BY ~. QUAD.
Copyright 1901, by G. B. Lewis.

T 1
The Palawan islands, in the China
I,sea, are to the north Of Borneo and
form . part Of the Philippine group.
They stretch out for a distance Of 700
miles and number nearly q thousand.
In the year 1882 was landed on one
Of the Palawans from d Singapore
trader teget up and run q copra plant
{ had with me four Chinese, and the
trader, landed provisions for g year.
After had the shed up and the work
going / had plenty OF time for fishing,
hunting and visiting the other islands.
Nothing OF special interest occurred
until had been on the island three
months. Then one morning as. i went
down to the boat TO put out on 4 fishing
Trip j was amazed to Hnd tracks ef3a.
woman's bare feet on the wet sands.
The tide was out. and she had wander
ed along the beach for half q mile.
probably just before daylight. Ii need
ed only d glance to tell me that the
DerBon who had left the tracks was a
white woman, but to make sure OF 1t
called to the Cinnamon. They at
ence agreed with me- There was
trail leading outAof the, water at one
spot and another trail leading back at
another spot but none to show that the
strange visitor to the island had scout
ed inland al ak We were on one Of
the OUTER or seward, islands, with
nothing between as and the Cochin
China coast There was small and
almost barren island three miles: to the
north and similar one about the same
distance to the south. but had visited
both and found no people.
Whoever had visited our island in
the darkness had come up out of the
depths Of the sea. No boat or raft had
landed on the shore The footprints
were as plain as plaster cast, and we
were Immediately interested and more
or less excited. After thinking the
matter over decided that the woman
must have come from one of the is
lands in some way and determined to
give both close search | set off to
the north and in the course of an hour
made a landing. This island had an
area of not more than five acres. Here
and there patch of soil covered the
rocks, and young cocoanut trees were
for life, but the ground was
easy Of search. / went over it care
fully and made the circuit of the island
in my boat, but not a living thing did |
see aside from the birds There were
no wild fruits to sustain life, nor was
able to find any fresh water.
1t was noon when got hack to m;
own island, and after dinner set out
to search the other AS this one had
more vegetation took with me the
boy, who was about 10 years of age
and named Whang. AS the wind was
light and a current against MS we were
two hours IN gaining the island. was
strong in the belief that some woman
had been cast away and was shifting
For herself, and that she had not made |
herself known to us simply proved that
she had hast her reason under the |
strain Of the kardships or took us for
natives who would modest her 1t was |
near sunset when we put or after a
vain search, and when we reached the |
'eef surrounding our island and hair
nile UNt from the beach the evening |
breeze died out to q Nat calm, and we
ay like q hog Before taking to the
oar to ScuA rs in to the shore sat
luiet for Q minute listening to the
whispers Of the sea. Whang leaned
'ver the rail- Of the boat and watched
he sharks darting. to and fro and leav-
ne trails Of Gre behind them, and
1ings were so stfll that could hear
he ticking OF my watch. when there
anne q strange Interruption II was
be voice OF g woman in laughter. and
sounded close by. We both sprang
p at the Sound. wondering IL our ears
lad deceived Ms and as we stood lis
ening the sounds came again. When
hey had aieQ away. the boy turned to
le and whispered.
master. for Gods sake let us get
shore u once. There Is q witch Of
be sea close by. and she viii drag us,
own?'
Il waited ten minutes, and. hearing
othing more, picked up the oar and
'uled In to the landing There I
5und the three Cinnamon waiting for |
ie' and they wereS in a state Of great
zcitemeRt, They had heard the laugh
n and they believed with the boy
lat a witch Of the sea was hanging
bout and meant to do us harm. Chi
ase life IS made up Of legends and
lperstitIons, and II Is useless to com