The sun., 1919-07-23

through one Of those queer twists of
Chirese fortune. Koxinga, a Chinese
revolutionist, bound to rule somewhere.
decided to occupy Formosa on his own
independent account. He did II success
fully in 1852 and died the next ycar.
But his associates dominated the island
for the next twenty years. until the
strong central government OF the Yuan
Dynasty finally brought Formosa under
Chinese control.
Japan offered Peace.
All OF this. and what followed for the
next two hundred years, has a very i'm
portant bearing upon Japan's dominion
over the island, for China's predecessors
robbed the natives: and because the
Island had cost China so much in effort,
men. money and ships, the big idea
seemed to be to let loose an ever in
creasing number of immigrants with
full license to gather to themselves. from
whomsoever had, all OF the real and
personal property desired by the new
settlers. Being better armed. the
Chinese tremendously increased the NOR
tally among the savages, and these ma
tive people took themselves and theiS
hatred OF foreigners up into the hills
where they could nurse their grudge in
safety. Often they journeyed forth and
collected a few heads in retaliation, and
soon became known to the world as head
hunters
These savages arc said by scientists II
BIO very closely related to the Igorotes
or the Philippine Islands, AMI they are
believed by some to have involuntarily
migrated TO the northern tslanI from
Aazon through having been caught in a
typhoon or some other overwhellnine
force, Just as the South Sea Islander,
migrated to the Hawaiian Islnnds.
So when japan took control of the
island these natives were suspicious Of
all Asiatic foreigners and Immediately
prepared to wage war upon the newcom'
ers. The hostility of the aborigines wal
naturally encouraged by the Chinese
who knew the subjects through Ions
association and carried on a persistent
propaganda among them.
When the Japanese took over the isl
and they offered the savages peace ant
plenty II they would simply recogniz,
the new sovereignty and become peace
ful citizens Of the island, but they me-
with the same mistrust which we en-
countered when We took over the Phil
ippine Islands. For years Japan car
ried on a sporadic warfare with thes
people Of the island and both sides suf
fered heavy losses. Two measures forcec
peace between the Japanese and tn,
aborigines highly charged electric fenc
ing was stretched about the aborigines
| strongholds and they were effectivel,
kept within bounds in most cases, bu
occasionally the tribes gathered for q
united attack. and then the electrical
protection failed.
Dropped Bombs on Head Hunters
Just a few years ago the savages gath
cred for a determined attack upon tn
japanese, who learned of the plan ant
sent military aviators over the camps o
the head hunters. who We're even theI
indulging In war dances and feasts II
anticipation of gaining control Of tn,
island. A few bombs judiciously droppe
among them soon convinced them tina
| the Japanese were too powerful I
light longer. and they voluntarily wen
to the various police and army station
and gave up their weapons and promise,
to be good.
Since then the Japanese have estab
lished schools for the savages, and man,
OF the savage children are developlnI
into very desirable and we'll educate.
citizens. From the day the very younl
child enters the Japanese school he 1
taught the Japanese language. the Japa
nese mode Of living and japanese meth
DDS. He is thoroughly Japanized by tn
time he leaves the school.
Ono of the great problems facing tn
Japanese when they entered Formosi
was that Of transportation. The river
Of Formosa are naturally short becaus
OF the comparative narrowness of tn
island, and they are rocky and swift
because of its mountainous char
acter. so that the waterways whic
have meant 80 much to the Chinese wer
] not available to the Chinese or thei
successors in Formosa. As soon a
Japan assumed control of the isl
and the harbor at Keeling, tn
northern port and nearest to Japan, wa
developed at an expense of some $4,000,
900. This is purely artificial harbor
but the Japanese have given 1t a mini
mum depth of twenty-six feet with
considerably greater depth in most part
| OF the harbor. so that the largest trans
pacific liners find 1t possible to enter a
any time.