The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-29
STRANGE NATIVES
OF THE SOUTH SEA
Civilization Has Meant Physical De-
terioration, Says the Rev. DIR.
J. w. Henry

Forced to admit that civilization has
meant physical deterioration of the saw
ages of the South Sea islands the Rev.
Dr. J. w. Henry, whose life work, like
that of his father and grandfather. has
been devoted to the Outstanding of the
cannibalistic and other heather, brings
thrilling stories of early days among
these peoples says the Los Angeles Times.
Less than the fig leaf apron that Eve
wore,' is the characterization that the
Rev. DR.. Henry gives to the primitive
cress of the Marquesans, living just 10
degrees below the equator on the Mar
6;uesas islands.
Modern dress tendencies may be NOV
ing in that direction laughingly re-
marked the distinguished religious vet
eran. but they'll never get that far, nor
can they go much further in that djrec-
ton than at the present time.
Ihese people were the finest examples
OF physical perfection have ever seen,
said DR.. Henry. barking back to the
Marquesans. 'Superbly built, the men
Wore less than a breech clout, and in
most Instances were absolutely nude,
while the women wore only a small pro-
tecting cloth girded about the loins. Rush
ing out to our ship, the men In canoes
and the women swimming, the savages
boarded our vessel I being merely a boy
they picked me out as a particular oh
ject of distinction. Surrounding me thew
lc't my arms and legs, prodding me in
the ribs and chest, and all this time
sflacked their lips and uttered cultural
approval.
Before any trouble could start they
were rushed off the ship and we put out
70 sea. 1t was strange to see the women
swimming, but we had learned that the
canoes were taboo to all women. and for
them to step In one meant Immediate
oeatn. Inc Marquesans at that time were
an anthropological wonder Their mar
rage relations were very lax, a man hav-
ing any number of wives and children.
the latter depending mostly on the tribes
anu nor on the parents for support There
was no disease of any kind among them
and their only besetting sin was Eating
human flesh. practice which has been
entirely abolished since the coming Of
Christianity. s Va
This introduction Of the white man
meant also the introduction of serious
diseases, and like all other South Sea
islanders the Marquesans were more
than decimated by them. Today thew
are merely semblance of the orig,
maj vigorous stalwart aborrixfnes."
The Rev. Dr.. Henry was not In the
MarQuesas Islands to any extent while
pursuing his labors, but in the Island
u Iahlti. on which his grandfather
William Henry. landed in 1877. with
the first missionaries that ever saw
the country. His grandfather, on his
| mothers side. the Rev. j. Osmund. ar
rived there in 1915. at the time idoiatrv
was overthrown In Tahiti. His fathar
was the Rev. Isaac Henry, and was
born In Papeete, while the local visitor
himself was born at Tiarei.
His uncle, Capt. Moody Osmund. was
slain and eaten by the Fiji islanders.
and his counsin, Capt Samuel James
Henry. was killed ana edvoured by the
natives on the Isle of Pines, New Gale
donia. When IL years old the Rev. DR.
Henry was sent to tho United States
for his education, and studied in Bos-
ton and New York, getting his divinity
degree at the Hammond Theological
seminary. of the then Madison, now
Colgate university. After few years
OF ministry in America. studying the
various systems Of religious teaching.
he went to the South Seas to take I'D
his life work.
! Conditions there are now much bet
ter than they have ever BEEN" he de-
clared. 'Blackbirding has stopped
| cannibalism IL 1t an end; the intro
duced ailments that came with the loose
sailors from all parts Of the civillSsd
world have been lArGely eradfcqted. the
natives have Accepted ChriotlaattY and
clothes a. quite proper.''
The Rev. Or. Henry VIII remain here
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