The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-03-19


not long aga that has thrills all its own. It's
dTerenf-thats all. The Soomons be it known,
are of the few places where the liking of the
hannibal Islands still reigns and does business at
the old stand. OF course none of the natives in
dulge openly in Long Pig; the white man sees
to that. But back in the bush 1t is still about
wild as 1t ever and the white can't
"atch the savaees all the time. And The appetite
and the taste still persist in the Solomon islands
savage.
Also, back In the bush the petty king takes unto
himself as many wives MS he wants, in the good
old-fashioned way Of the Solomon islands-may.
be that where they get the name. And natural
~ king with a white wife In his collection would
be some punkns-whch is where Mrs Johnson
comes into the story. AS for Mr. Johnson EVIL
IDENTIFY the kettle hasn't been cast that can con-
vert him into cannibalistc titbit.
Johnsons home is In Independence Kan but
he is seldom there because there is adventure In
MS pood ana he cannot stay long In one place
darking back few years. he was with Jack Lon.
don on The famous cruise of the Shark Forever
after there was nothing to the sedentary life OF
the ordinary American for him. He had to roam
and the region that has presented the greatest
lure for him is the Solomon islands.
Like many another woman his wife, Osa, did
not discover until after her marriage exactly what
sort of man her husband really was. She as
sumed that she had married an enterprsing young
business man whose passion for photography need
a
had been friend of the late Jack London but
how, when he displayed such q proper newlv
wed interest In the rugs and furniture and cur
tains of the new little home in Independence was
the poor girl to guess that fine day her spouse
would decide that he just must go adventurine
In the South seas again?
When he made the announcement about six
months ago, however, Mrs. johnson decided she
was bound to be pal and hepmeet or die in the
attempt so she decided to go along. And thus
it came to pass that few weeks later In what
is known the big Numbers district home of
the iercest race of cannbals at present in exs-
tence, Mr.. and Mrs Johnson risking their
lives to obtain photographs of these people They
are said to be the first white people ever to en-
ter into this district and come away.
From the moment of Johnson's landing In the
New Hebrdes and the white people became aware
of his mission. he warned against maxine
photographs OF the savage natives Of the large
Island of Malekula. but the stories he heard only
made him want to photograph these people all the
more 1t was with the idea of being close to This
island that he visited the small island of yao md
made arrangements to stop with an American
missionary located there and wait his chance
Every day for week he watched for soma
schooner. His intention to make arrange
ments with the captain to take him to the Rig
Numbers district. % miles from Vac on the other
side of the island of Malekua. But no schooner
came along and he grew restless for he wanted
the pictures Finally he secured whaeboat be-
longing to a trader and persuaded five semi
civilized cannbals of Vac island to go along as
crew.
Right here is where Johnson made three mis-
takes. Mistake No. i was in going No Q WAS In
taking his wife with him. No. was in NOT taking
along motion picture
They sailed away from Vac one morning and
shortly after Of the same day came into Big
Numbers bay and drew the boat upon the sandy
beach AT first not native in sight Then
about 25 savages emerged from different places
along the horseshoe bay and came to them. They
were of larger stature than any johnson had seen
In this group Around their waists they wore
dark bands that covered them from their upper
hips to their first ribs. This band is sort of
belt that is wound around two three times
outside of this they entirely naked
Most of them had very hairy faces and big
heads of bushy hair and many armlets and
anklets Of wild boar tusks But their faces were
the striking part about them they the ug-
hest and cruelest and most repulsive the ex-
porer had ever Their mouths large
their eyes those of an animal and their skin