Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-08-27
Dr.. Edward, Letter


the native houses was one of the
interesting features of the trip,
and is well worth describing
Threading my way along a mar.
row path through a maze OF
wondrOus tropical growth shown
off to perfection by the tower.
ing halls beyond, came to a
coral strand, all bleached and
white, surrounding a matched
hut. The house was ten feet
high by fifteen long, and ten
wide, with coral floor and thatch.
ed leaf roof. and sides of close
ly woven bamboo sticks. A
few low bedSteads are around the
room and on each is a layer of
beautiful mats, woven from sug.
ar cane, palm or pandanuS leaves
There is no partition or curtain,
as the room is common to the
family, all living in the perfect
innocence of Eve, before the
fall. Big camphOr wood chests
keep what little clothing the
family possesses in addition tc
what they are wearing, while a
sewing machine standing in the
corner shows that civilization has
reached even this out of the
way corner of the world. From
one corner across to the other
stretches a clothes line on which
hangs all sorts Of wearing ap
parel, in divers cOlOrS and condi
tons of patches.
Sitting on mats which cover
the floor are a number of women
who give you a cordial welcome
ALI are dressed in the loose cal.
leo dresses, typical of the is
lands. Some are weaving mats,
Others making hats, but all are
doing their work 50 indOlently
that it scarcely seems to- be work
at all. Time is of no object here
consequently the hat which is
begun today may not be finished
until some time next year.
Oranges, bananas and other
fruits are offered, and all seem
to be glad Of my visit, but | am
sure that as soon as | left the
place they returned to their ac.
cuStOmed occupation of retail
ing the latest gossip of the is
land, with perhaps, some slight
reference to my personal appear
acne. There is nothing in this
sort Of talk with them, but it
must be remembered that they
have nothing except the rare Wis
it of a stranger to break the
mOnOtony of their lives.
Leaving this house l took the
track leading down fertile val
ley, and wandered on amid va
nilla and coffee plantations, with
guava and pineapple running ri
OF, and oranges and bananas
growing wild, while the air was
thick with the aroma of trOpic
flowers. | have never seen such
wealth of flowers nor any of
to be found here.
such gorgeous colorings as are
| next made a visit to Makea,
queen of Rarotonga. An attend
ant, hat in hand, ushered me in.
to her presence, and | was al
once struck with her remarkable
resemblance to LilliOukalani, the
queen of the Hawaiian islands
They look enough alike to be sis
tiers. Queen Makea rules al
these people of RarOtOnga, anc
her rule is absolute for the ma
tiveS believe she has the power o
casting spells with her evil eye
She speaks very little English sc
consequently my visit was brief
She shook hands cordially will
ure when | left and said she was
pleased with my visit, | was tOlt
that when her subjects grievous
ly offended her she simply said
away with you, | wish to SET
you no more" and the nativ'
went out and died.
For minor Offenses the native
are fined, and work out thel
fines by service for the queen 70
a stated priod. Sometimes the,
ray their fines in articles rangln
from a bar of soap to as higl
as twenty-five dollars in money
Of course the queen is unde
British domination, for this is
land belongs to Great Britain br
one would never know it fror
H. ,,-o,, +bo ,DaoDlo piy-a hpr a N