The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-10-04

the camph0r business. I'm ~
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
. large scale. and thus are competing
In tho market to an alarming extent.
1t IL 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 a
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 flourlshes over a
great extent OF territory. In virgin
forests.
Unfortunately. II Is in the noun
famous interior OF Formosa that the
camphor laurel grows-that is to say.
In q 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 distillng outfits. Neverthe-
less. trouble has been frequent, and
the stills have been constantly de-
stroyed.
An unlimited number of Iaborers
can be hired In Japan for ten cents a
day; but not for any such price, nor
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 headhunting to the Formo.
san savage Is a religion: nothing
from his point OF view Ia so impor-
tant, and he will lie in wait for many
days at time near a lonely path In
the woods for the sake of getting one
chop at passing camphor-seeker.
Formosa Is big island-as large as
SARDINIA and Corsica put together. 1t
10 235 miles long and rs 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 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 d.
minishing domain.
BY this means 1t 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-
sary change Of plan. Camphor must
be had. and It has been decided to
wipe out or pacify all the savages
within the coming year. They can
take their choice which 1t shall be-
Their numbers are not accurately
rnown. Of course but 1t Is understood
that 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,
island. have already been partly civil.
lized. and there Is even established
among them sort of rural free deliv-
cry mail service, by native letter car.
riers. In the central range OF noun.
talns dwell the tribes OF the Vonuum
group. which are very fierce and en-
terprising head-hunters. In 1905 they
became so troublesome that a military
attack was made upon them. result
Ing In their partial pacitication.
The Atayal. or nothern savages. are
the largest and most powerful group
They look upon head-hunting as the
chief end and aim of existence. A hui
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 head. A LAD
Is not recognized as adult until he has
taken a head. But 1t must be the
head of Japanese or Chinaman
Their customary method is to lie II
wait in the jungle, near a frequentet
path, several of them together. in tn,
hope of obtaining the much-covetet
trophy.
Thus civilized existence anywher,
near to the savage border is beset will
no little peril. At the same time, tn
land of the Atayal is particularly
tempting by reason Of its richness i
l.