The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-27
Lie ISLAND LIFE.
Ne nnsss, Crime, Police or JsiIs
In Cocos-K Keeling.

EMP blessed Win d sPIehuAo
clinre the Cocos-K ceiling ISL
and the Straits Archipelago.
THEORY is as strange and ro-
MAJ their present lie is curious
and e.
is, says the Pail Mall Ga
zettSeotch sailor named Ross
lannd, seeing that the isles
werf good, he took possession
andsd there with his family.
Thieves were gentle and teach
ablchat Ross had no difficulty
in .r himself their ruler. In
185hoisted the union jack as &
presa against the visit Of a wan
derirench man Of war, and six
yeaser the isles we're formally
ann By the British government.
Vile tact and wisdom Ross de-
yotlnself to governing the peO-
pie whom he had SO quantity
estsed himself as king, and on
his ase he bequeathed his mis-
siolgoyernment and proprietor
shii he Cocos-K feeling to his son.
Thisent owner and ruler Of the
isla y. G. Clunies Ross, is the
thi succession. He was studying
enaring at Glasgow when his
fail death called him to the fore
is s ago. Abandoning his Eu-
roIambitions, he settled in his
kim, married a Cocos wife and
del his life to the welfare Of the
nat who are his children rather
thabiects. The work Of the
Ro in thus ordering these East
Inc islands forms a fascinating
stund the Cocos-K Keeling group,
tho generally unknown, is per-
hajhe most picturesque in the
Brl empire. The little horse
shaped cluster Of islands, three
daJteaming south Of Java, are
bid with a perfect climate, luxur-
ianil, and man here is seen at his
veest.
'inhabitants number about 500,
Il - 400 Mo Cocos born and the
render coolie laborers from Java.
On the rule Of the Roses, the
onghite residents, schools have
besstablished and all the islanders
arell educated, the s%choolmaster'
in-ef being a. Ross, a master Of
arbf Glasgow university. Every
mis- also trained to work in brass
irmnd wood, and is a skilled arti
saEvery Cocos girl similarly serves
a n Of apprenticeship in Cluniei
Re house, learning sewing, cook
inmd the whole round Of domestic
artnder the tuition Of his wife
Foerly the Cocos parents used t
arlge their children's marriages
the new order each mai
woman is a free agent, ant
chses a partner according to Eu
roam usage. Marriages are cele
bred according to the Mohamme
dalaw, but polygamy is prohibited
an there have been only two di
wees in the last so years. There
jail nor policeman, for Grim
id not exist in these islands
Dam and alcohol are forbidden
ar the willy Chinese is also excluded
Vcination is compulsory, and a
sas are made by barter, for Mr.. Ros
vi not allow money, holding it
root of all evil.
he industries Of the island cor
il in gathering cocoanuts and pre-
Daing their oil and copra. Bech
and a bark for dying are ais
s0orted by a chartered vessel, whic
as annually for the purpose. Pr
are fetched once a mont
rm Batavia, but rice is the onl
cd largely imported, for fru.
Ibunds in the islands, poultry
)hntiful and the sea teens with fist
rle gentle and handsome natiV
eds a life idyllic in graceful col
eat and happiness under the paren
/ eye Of Ruler Ross III. He car
-
guards bis little Utopia again
be introduction Of European Gu
oms with their attendant i'll
Jhristmasisland close by, is similar
uled BY his brother, Andrew Ros
fourishes there, and 50
ats and cats, almost to the extent
plague. Hitherto these atoms
have enjoyed serene isOl
ion, but the new electric cable fro
lt,rhan tn Adelaide fonches at II