El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-25

! years had been allowed, under the plan
contemplated, for wiping out or paci-
flying the savages CO Formosa. But
now it is to be accomplished inside of
twelvemOnth, and the Japanese gov
eminent has made a special appropria-
ton of s7,175.0OO to pay the military
expenses.
This IS on account of the camphor
business. Until recently the entire
world has practically depended for it's
supply of camphor upon Japan, which
has held almost a monopoly of the pro-
duction 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 Japa-
nese sources shall be maintained, lest
it be replaced and crowded out by syn
thetic camphor. The camphor trees
which formerly grew plentifully in
southern Japan have been to a great
extent destroyed, owing to neglect Of
a regulation that used to require the
planting of one Seeding for every tree
cut, and so the Japanese are obliged
to look to Formosa. where the cam
P4lOI over d SIedl CA
tent of territory, in virgin forests.
Savages Control Region.
Unfortunately. it is in the mountain
Gus interior of Formosa that the cam
phor laurel grows-that is to say in
region which has been since prehistoric
times, and is today, under savage do
minion. The savages who occupy this
territory are very fierce, and earnestly
addicted TO head hunting. Hitherto
the camphor Of their forests has been
obtained only with their consent, and
It has been customary to pay money
to their chiefs as an inducement to
refrain from destroying the distilling
outfits. Nevertheless. trouble has been
frequent, and the stills have been con-
stantly destroyed.
An unlimited number of laborers can
be hired in Japan for 10 cents a day;
but not for any such price, nor for
many times that much, can men be OBJ
tanned to go into the forests of For
mOsa. cut down the camphor trees. and
distill the gum, at the serious risk Of
losing their heads. 1t is well known
that the Japanese do not lack bravery;
but head hunting to the FormOsan saw
age is a religion; nothing from his
point of view is so important and he
will lie in wait for many days at a
time near lonely path in the woods
for the sake of getting one shot at a
passing camphor seeker.
Japan Would Control Island
Formosa is a big island-as large
as Sardinia and Corsica put togther
1t is 235 miles long and 10 miles wide
More than half Of its entire area is
today in the possession of savages. For
some years past Japan has pursued a
rather interesting method for the pur-
pose of bringing about their eventual
subjugation- She has esta blished a
guard line" all around the mountain
Gus interior. with small military out
posts at intervals along it, and has
forward, so as to restrict the wild peo-
pie to a slowly but surely diminishing
domain
BY this means 1t was expected that
within Is years of the present time,
the entire island would be brought un-
der civilized control. But CONNER
cial necessity has made necessary a
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 it shall be. Their num-
bers are not accurately known, Of
course. but it IS understood that they
are split up into no fewer than 723
tribes. whose villages comprise from
three to upwards of 800 hous es.
Nine Powerful Fierce Tribes
The tribes are divided into nine
groups, which are mutually hostile.
md which differ from one another in
customs and languages. Some Of them
particularly at the south end of the |
island. have already been partly civil 1
lied, and there is even established /
among them a sort of rural free de- !
livery mail service. by native letter /
carriers In the central range of noun !
tains 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. resulting
N their partial paci1cation
The Atayal, or northern savages are
The largest and most powerful eroup.
They look upon head hunting as the
chief end and aim Of existence
human head is necessary as an Offering