The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-14
Tinor
Last of Portugal's East India
Empire

Washington, Nov. 2S.-'Timor.
which is the only territory of a
considerable area which Portugal
owns east Of India. and which with
the four-square-m port Of Macao
constitutes Portugars possessions
in what is generally known as the
Far East, is a sort of Haiti-San
Domingo of the East Indies" says
one of the bulle tins of the
National Geographic Society in re-
gard to the far eastern lands Of the
countries represented at the Wash
| ington Conference.
Across it's middle" continues
the bulletin, runs surveyed line
dividing it roughly into halves, one
controlled by Portugal and the
other by Holland. The similarity
with Haiti is heightened by the
fact that the natives of Timor, un-
like those of most OF the islands
to the west of it. are largely OF
negro origin, due it is believed, to
an influx of blood from the black,
woolly-haired natives Of New
Guinea.
Long Center of Turbulence.
And like it's West Indian double,
Timor has been a center Of turbu-
lence. For nearly two centuries
the Portuguese and Dutch fought
at frequent intervals back and forth
across the imaginary line that sep
.arates their territory. In 1859 the
line was fixed definitely and the
treaty as since amended has re-
lieved friction. 1t is provided that
any subsequent disputes shall be
settled by arbitration.
"An examination Of a map brings
out strikingly what small fraction
Timor is of the vast land area
/ of the East Indies, once entirely un-
der Portuguese dominion. But the
island is not so small as it at first
aDpears to he. With the huge bulk
of Australia a short distance to the
south, and three Of the largest IS
/! lands in the world grouped about it
| to the north, east and west, Timor
seems an insignificant speck. Its
area, however, is 12,450 square
miles-almost four times as great
as that of Porto Rico and about
equal to that of Massachusetts, and
Connecticut together. The Portu-
guese territory has twice the area
of Porto Rico.
A Victim Of Australia
Neither the Portuguese nor the
iDutch portions Of Timor have been
developed to any considerable ex--
/ tent, though both Of the nations
have been represented on the island
I for more than 800 years. This is
in large part due to the fact that
Timor is relatively poor in natural
resources. The island is the victim
of its proximity to Australia. For
many months each year hot. dry
winds from the Australian deserts
blow over Timor parching its veg
citation anu drying up its streams.
! The only patches of forests to be
found on the southern shores Of the
islands are in protected valleys. The
northern half has a moister cli-
mate and a heavier growth of veg
citation.
Portuguese Timor mas an area
of 1880 square miles and an esti-
mated population Of nerly 100000
Except for the port and capital OF
of Dill, place with some 3,O0o
inhabitants, Portugal has made lit
tie impression on the island. The
people Of the interior are in q more
or less savage state and are ever
reported to still engage in head
hunting. In the Il Ghlands near ths
coast a crude sort Of agriculture i
practiced. The country is capablt
of producing a superior grade OF
coffee but only a small quantity l:
now raised.
Naked Natives Rob. Bees
Wild bees are numerous, and ir
the mild climate of Timor. bullo
their comb in the open on the un'
der side of the limbs of tall trees
One Of the picturesque though per
haps painful industries is the col
lection of the nests by nearly max
ed native tree climbers. The peo
pie feast on the honey and sell The
wax which forms one Of the chic
exports of the islands.
"Only 800 miles off the nortl
coast of Australia, Timor is the
last link in an island chain sweep
ing from Singapore. the southeas
corner Of Asia. to the big soutf
continent. and by virtue of this 10
cation it may become an lmportaf
way station for aerial traffic be
tween Australia and Asia anf
Europe. Sir Ross Smith, Australian
airman, in his famous trail-blazlnf
flight from London to Australia II
1919. landed in Timor. and from
there hoped Off on the last les
of his inter-continental journey.