Barbour County index., 1910-08-10

-
Is to be accomplished In s.
side of twelvemonth, and
the Japanese government
has made a special appro m
priation of $7,175,00O to
pay This lne is 'sa's on ACCOUNT eaDpa'eS Of w o@
the camphor business. I'm w.
til recently the entire
world has practically depended for its
supply of camphor upon Japan, which
has held a monopoly of the produc-
tion of that necessary article. But
the Germans have begun to manufac-
ture artificial (synthetic) camphor on
large scale, and thus are competing
In the market to an alarming extent.
II is very necessary under the cir
cumstances that the supply from
japanese sources shall be maintained.
lest It be replaced and crowded out by
synthetic camphor. The camphor
trees which formerly grew plentifully
in Southern Japan have been to
great extent destroyed, owing to neg
lect Of a regulation that used to re-
quire the planting of one seeding for
every tree cut, and so the Japanese
are Obliged to look to Formosa, where
the camphor laurel fiourishes over
great extent of territory, in virgin
forests.
Unfortunately, 1t is in the noun
famous interior Of Formosa that the
camphor laurel grows-that is to say,
in region which has been since pre-
historic times, and Is today, under
savage dominion. The savages who
occupy this territory are very fierce,
and earnestly addicted to head-hunt-
ing. Hitherto the camphor of their
forests has been obtained only with
their consent, and it has been custo-
mary to pay money to their chiefs as
an inducement to refrain from destroy
ing the distilling outfits. Neverthe-
less, trouble has been frequent and
the stills have been constantly de-
stroyed.
An unlimited number of laborers
can be hired in Japan for ten cents
day; but not for any such price, nor
for many times that much can men be
obtained to go into the forests of
Formosa, cut down the camphor trees,
and distill the gum, at the serious risk
of losing their heads. 1t is we'll known
that the Japanese do not lack brav-
cry; but head-hunting to the Formo.
san savage is a religion; nothing
from his point of view is so impor
tant, and he will lie in wait for many
days at a time near lonely path In
the woods for the sake of getting one
chop at a passing camphor-seeker.
Formosa is a big island-as large as
SARDINIA and Corsica put together. 1t
is 235 miles long and IS miles wide.
More than half of it's entire area is to-
day in the possession of the savages.
For some years past Japan has pur-
sued a rather interesting method for
the purpose of bringing about their
eventual subjugation. She has estab-
llshed a guard line" all around the
mountainous interior. with small mill
tary outposts at intervals along 1t, and
has pushed this artificial frontier
steadily forward, so as to restrict the
wild people to a slowly but surely di
minishing domain.
BY this means it was expected that
within fifteen years of the present
time the entire island would be
brought under civilized control Bu
commercial necessity has made neces
sary a change of plan. Camphor mus
be had, and 1t has been decided t
wipe out or pacify all the savage!
within the coming year. They cal
take their choice which 1t shall be
Their numbers are not accuratel,
Inown. of course, but 1t is understood
chat they are split up into no fewe
than 723 tribes, whose villages com
prise from three to upward of thre
hundred houses.
The tribes are divided into min
groups, which are mutually hostile
and which differ one another in cus
toms and languages. Some of then
particularly at the south end Of tn
island, have already been partly civ
lized, and there Is even escablishe
among them a sort of rural free deli
cry mail service, by native letter ca
riers. In the central range of moul
tains dwell the tribes of the Vonuul
group, which are very fierce and el
terprising head-hunters. In 1905 the
became so troublesome that militar
attack was made upon them. resul
dng in their partial pacification.
The Atayal, or nothern savages. al
the largest and most powerful grou
They look upon head-hunting as tt
chief end and aim of existence. A h
man head is necessary as an offerir
in all their religious ceremonial
When a dispute arises between ind
Niduals. decision is awarded to II
one who first secures head. A Ia
is not recognized as adult until he hs
taken a head. But 1t must be Il
head Of a Japanese or Chinama
Their customary method is to lie
walt in the jungle. near frequentt
path. several of them together, in II
mona of attaining fha unuch.novotS