The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09
IDYLLIC ISLAND LIFE.
No Drunkenness, Crime, Police, Jafls
or Courts i'm COcos-keeling.

Pail Mall Gazette.
Away from the ordinary track of ships
and blessed with a splendid climate are the
Cocos- Keeling islands, in the Straits archi-
pelago. Their history is as strange and ro-
mantle their present life is curious and
unique.
landed, and, seeing that the isles were very
good, he took possession and settled there
with his family. The natives were gentle
and teachable, so that Ross had no diff
Guilty in making himself their ruler. In 1851
he hoisted the union jack as a precaution
against the visit of q wandering French
man-of-war,, and six years later the isles
were formally annexed by the British gov
eminent. With rare tact and wisdom Ross
devoted himself to governing the people
over whom he had so quantity established
queathed his mission Of government and
proprietorship of the Cocos- Keeling to his
son. The present owner and ruler of the
islands, j. G. Clunies Ross, Is the third in
succession. He was studying engineering
at Glasgow when his fathers death called
him to the fore fifteen years ago. Adam
doning his European ambitions, he settled
in his kingdom, married a Cocos wife and
devoted his life to the welfare OF the ma
tives, who are his children rather than sub
jects. The work of the ROSES In thus or
dering these East Indian islands forms a
fascinating story, and the Cocos-Keeling
group. though generally unknown. is per-
haps the most picturesque In the British
empire. The little horseshoe-shaped cluster
of islands, three days steaming south OF
Java, are blessed with a perfect climate,
luxuriant soil, and man here is seen at his
very best.
The inhabitants number about GOO. of
whom 400 are Cocos born and the remainder
coolie laborers from Java Under the rule
of the Rosses, the only white residents,
schools have been established, and all the
islanders are we'll educated the schoolmas-
ter-in-chief being A. Ross, a master of arts
OF Glasgow University. Every male is also
trained to work in brass, iron and wood
and Is a skilled artisan. Every Cocos girl
similarly serves term Of apprenticeship in
Clunies Ross house. learning sewing. cook
under the tuition of his wife. Formerly the
Cocos' parents used to arrange their chill
dren's marriages, but under the new order
each man and woman is a free agent, and
usage. Marriages are celebrated according
to the Mohammedan law, but polygamy Is
prohibited. and there have been only two d.
vorces In the last fifty years. There Is nei-
ther jail nor policeman, for crime does not
exist in these islands. Opium and alcohol
are forbidden, and the willy Chinese is also
excluded. Vaccination is compulsory, and
all sales are made by barter, for Mr.. Ross
will not allow money, holding II to be the
root of all evil.
The industries of the island consist in
gathering cocoanuts and preparing their oil
and copra. Beche de mer and a bark for
dying are also exported by chartered YES
Provisions are fetched onoe a month from
Batavia. but rice is the only food largely
imported. for fruit abounds In the islands,
poultry is plentiful and the sea teens with
fish. The gentle and handsome native leads
a life idyllic in graceful content and happi-
ness under the parental eye Of Ruler Ross
Ill He carefully guards his little Utopia
against the introduction of European Gus
toms with their attendant Ills. Christmas
island. close by, is similarly ruled by his
brother, Andrew Ross. Coffee f1ourishes
there, and SO do rats and cats. almost to the
extent of plague. Hitherto these atoms OF
Britain have enjoyed serene isolation, but
the new electric cable from Durham to Ade-
laide touches at the Cocos-Keeling and
Christmas islands. so that they are now
linked with the greater world not il is To
be hoped, to the spelling Of their arcadian
character.