Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-08-05

side of a twelvemonth. and NMxS q
the Japanese government
has made special appro- ~
priation of s7.175.OOO to yT#N
pay the military expenses. :.
This is on account OF IE1 ZGzr.
the camphor business. Un- w.
til recently the entire
world has practically depended for Its
supply of camphor upon Japan, which
has held a monopoly of the produc-
ton of that necessary article. But
the Germans have begun to manufac-
ture artificial (synthetic) camphor on
a large scale. and thus are competing
In the market to an alarming extent.
1t is very necessary under the cir
cumstances that the supply from
Japanese sources shall be maintained.
lest 1t 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
Iect 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
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 a 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 distllling outfits. Neverthe-
less, trouble has been frequent. and
the stills have been constantly de-
stroyed.
An unlimited number of laborcrs
can be hired In Japan for ten cents n
day: but not for any such price. nor
for many times that much can men be
obtained to go into the forests OF
Formosn. cut down the camphor trees.
and distIll tho gum. at the serious risk
| OF losing heir heads. II is well known
that the Japanese do not lack brav-
cry: but head hunting to the Formo'
san savage is religion: nothing
from his point Of view is so impor-
tant. and he will lie In walt for many
days at a time near a lonely path In
the woods for the sake OF getting one
chop at a passing camphor-secker.
FOrmosa is a big island-ns large as
SARDINIA and Corsica put together. 1t
is 235 miles long and IS miles wide.
More than half OF Its 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'
lIshed n guard line" all around the
mountainous interior. with small mill
tary outposts at intervals along It. and
has pushed this artificial frontier
steadily forward. SO as to restrict the
wild people to n slowly but surely di.
minishing domain.
BY this means II was expected that
within fifteen years OF the present
time the entire island would be
brought under civilized control But
commercial necessity has made neces-
snry a change OF plan. Camphor must
be had. and II has been decided to
wirc out or pacify all the savages
within the coming year. They can
take their choice which It shall be.
Their numbers are not accurately
;nOvn. of course. but It is understood
hat they are split up into no fewer
than 723 tribes. whose villages com.
prise from three to upward of three
hundred houses.
The tribes are divided into nine
groups. which are mutually hostile.
and which differ one another in Gus
toms and languages. Some of them.
particularly at the south end of the
Island. have already been partly civil
lizcl and there is even established
among them a sort of rural free delIv-
cry mail service. by native letter car
riers In the central range Of noun
talne dwell the tribes OF the Vonuum
group. which are very fierce and en-.
ternrisirg head hunters. In 1905 they
became so troublesome that a military
attack was made upon them. result.
ing In their partial pacification.
The Atayal. or nothern savages. are
the largest and most powerful group.
Thev look upon head-hunting as the
chic end and aim of existence. a hu.
man head Is necessary as an offering
In all their religious ceremonials
When dispute arises between indi
viduals. decision is awarded to the
one who first secures a head. A lad
is rot recognized as adult until he has
taken head. but It must be the
head o! Japanese or Chinaman.
Their customary method is to lie in
Eait in the Jungle. near n frequentcd
path. several of them together. in the
hope Of obtaining the muchcoveted
trophy.
wi. .t..,,t, t.,a ,,,.a-.