The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-03-19

mon lSl1luS III VIC tNoull SN"o
no, long ago that has thrills all its own. It's
diifprenf-that's all. The SolOmons, be it known,
are one of the few places where the King of the
Cannibal Islands" still reigns and does business at
the old stand. OF course none of the natives in.
iulge openly in Long Pig; the white man sees
to that. But back in the bush it is still about as
wild as it ever was and the white man can't
watch the savaees all the time. And the appetite
ana the taste still persist in the Solomon islands
savage.
Also, back in the bush the petty king takes unto
himself as many wives as he wants, in the good,
old fashioned way Of the Solomon islands-may.
be that's whore they get the name. And natural
ly 4 king with Il white wife in his collection would
be some nunklns-which is. where Mrs. Johnson
comes into the story. AS for Mr.. Johnson, evi.
IDENTIFY the kettle hasn't been cast that can con-
vert him into 4 cannibalistic titbit.
JohnsOn'S home is in independence, Kan, but
he is seldom there because there is adventure in
his blood and he cannot stay long in one place.
Harking back Il few years, he was with Jack Lon.
don on the famous cruise of the Shark. Fcrever
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 a man her husband really was. She as
sumed that she had married an enterprising young
business man whose passion for photography need
give her no alarm. She knew, of course. that he
had been a friend Of the late Jack London, but
how, when he displayed such a proper, newly
we'd interest in the rugs and furniture and cur
tains of the new little home in Independence. was
the poor girl 10 guess that one fine day her spouse
would decide that he just must go adventurins
n the South seas again?
When he made the announcement about six
months ago, however, Mrs. Johnson decided she
was bound to be a pal and helpmeet or die in the
attempt, so she decided to 90 along. And thus
it came to pass that, a few weeks later, in what
is known as the Big Numbers district. home of
the fercest race of cannibals at present in exis-
tence. Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson were 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 i'm the
New Hebrides and the white people became aware
Of his mission. he was warned against making
photographs Of the savage natives Of the large
Island Of Male;ula, but the stories he hear! only
made him want to photograph these people all the
more. It was with the idea Of being close to this
island that he visited the small island of Vac and
made arrangements to stop with an American
missionary located there and wait his chance.
Every day for a week he watched for some
schooner. His intention was to make arrange.
ments with the captain to take him to the Big
Numbers district. % miles from Vac, on the other
side of the island of Malekula. But no schooner
came along and he grew restless, for he wanted
the pictures. Finally he secured a whaleboat be-
longing to a trader and persuaded five semi
civilized cannibals of Vac island to go along as
crew.
Right here is where Johnson made three mis-
takes. Mistake No. 1 was in going. No. 9 was in
taking his wife with him. No. 3 was in not taking
along n motion picture man.
They sailed away from Vac one morning and
shortly after noon of the same day came into Big
Numbers bay and drew the boat upon the sandy
beach. At first not a native was in sight. Then
about % savages emerged from different places
along the horseshoe bay and came to them. They
were of larger stature than any Johnson had see1
in this group. Around their waists they wore
dark bands that covered them from their upper
hins 70 their first ribs. This band is sort OF a
belt that is wound around two or three times
outside of this they were entirely naked.
Most of them had very hairy faces and big
heads of bushy hair and many wore armlets ana
anklets Of wild boar tusks. But their faces were
the striking part abort them; they were the ug-
hest and cruelest and most repulsive the ex'
r,orer had ever seen. Their mouths were large
their eyes those Of an animal and their skin was