Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-03-31
AMONG THE CANNIBALS
DIR. EDWORDS IN THE SOLOMON
ISLANDS.
Natives so Savage No Stranger
Dares to Leave Ship. Jack Lon
don Anchored There. Graphic
Description of Savages.

Port Praslin, Solomon Islands
March 1S:-During my voyage
nave been at numerous places
where cannibalism has been prac-
ticed in former days, but now | am
where it is still in vogue. In fact
the inhabitants of the Solomon
group of islands are so savage that
no stranger dare TO go far from the
ship which brings him to these
waters. Many natives are to be
seen on the beach, and they swarm
about the ship in their peculiar
canoe, with curios and fruits for
sale, but | am told that in spite of
their apparent friendliness, death
would be the portion of anyone who
accepted their hospitality and Wis
tied their villages.
was surprised TO see little
schooner here lying in the harbor
when we arrived. and still more
surprised when | learned that it
was the Shark, the boat i'm which
Jack London, the author. and his
Wife are making a trip around the
world. London is very i'll and will
have to give up his trip for while
and even now is preparing to leave
MS vessel here while he goes back
to Australia TO have an operation
performed.
The canoes Of these people are
the most beautiful to be seen in
the Pacific, made of planks sewn
together and made water tight with
sort of bitumen They are about
twenty feet in length and are very
light and trim, tapering to a point
at each end They have high prows
and sterns. which are for the pur-
pose of shielding them from their
enemies in battle. They are wreath
ed in shells and inlaid with mother
of pearl The men are adopts at
driving them through the water,
and they came about the ship at
once on her dropping anchor.
The captain forbade any of the
passengers from going ashore,
and told us that on one Of his prey
ious trips four men insisted on 60
ing TO the beach TO trade with the
natives. The captain told them he
would blow his whistle three hours
before the ship sailed, and for them
TO Immediately return TO the vessel.
The whistle was blown according
TO agreement but the men did not
come back, and even though the
shIp waited twenty-four hours,
nothing was ever heard of the
men. | suppose they made a fine
meal for the islanders.
The natives are naked, both men
and women and are of a most un-
preposessing appearance. They
have many curios, for this island is
not only full of strange birds and
animals, which are not found in
any of the other islands visited. but
they have peculiar weapons and
utensils which they will sell for to-
bacco or food. Among the birds is
the Tyre bird whose tail is most gor-
geously colored and looks like the
musical instrument from which it
derives its name. There Is also a
splendidly cOlored paroquet.
The men carry trophies of human
skulls, and peculiar preserved
human face which is painted and
inlaid with mother of pearl, giving
II most grotesque appearance.
The island abounds in all sorts of
tropical fruits. but so far the ma
tives have prevented every effort to
coloniZe it with white people. A
number of Catholic missionaries
came here several years ago and
founded a mission but all of them
were killed and the same fate has
met every person who has tried to
make friends with the savages.
They will trade with the ships in a
small way but are bitterly opposed
TO having whites come on land to
stay permanently.
One of the islanders who appear
ed to be chief, came aboard ship
and tried to induce some of the
passengers to go ashore, saying
that they would be perfectly safe.
but the captain advised so strongly
against it that no one felt like
tempting fate. They carry bows
and spears and have shields made
of rushes bound together in oval
form. They seem to have no idea
of values, and one can secure beau
tiful trophies for small piece of
tobacco or a string of small beads
worth ten cents. They have pigs
and chickens, and there are also
many dogs which are half wild and
look more like wolves than dogs.
CLARENCE +. EDWORDS