The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-09-15

largest clam. The shells of these hus
bivalves often weigh 500 pounds, a..
the meat alone 20 pounds.
Rellgiously. New Guinea Is a mi,
ture. Just as II is politically. Mohsp
mechanism has a slight foothOld d
the west coast, due to the contact
the tribes there with the Mohammet
ans OF the islands extending of .
ward Asia. Christian missions an
located at intervals along the coax
all around the island, but the numbe
of natives so far Chrlstlanlzed
small. On some OF the tiny islands
lying In the strait between New !
Guinea and Australia entire comm
mites of Christians are to be found
Throughout most Of the huge island \
however paganism is rampant, the ma +
tives propitiating supposed evil spirits /
and the forces OF nature.
Because New Guinea is so far from
countries with whose size we are IA.
millar, we are likely to consider its er
tent rather vague. If the island could
he laid down along our Atlantic coas
we would soon appreciate Its vastness
1t Is approximately 1.500 miles long
isid would reach from the southem'
tip OF Florida 10 the northernm0st
point on the coast Of Maine. Its 400
miles of width would cover twO-thirds
the distance Of Bermuda. The area Of
the island Is close to 100000 square
miles, and Il Is supposed TO have
about 1.0O0O00 Inhabitants.
History OF the Island,
New Guinea was discovered more
than hhif q century before Australia
was FIRST sighted; but while the latter
hns come 10 have u population OF
5.00O.000 white people. and is the seat
of m important. modern Christian gov
ernment, the former is still almost
the undlsputed domain of .savagery.
The Dutch laid the first claim to ter
rltory In the island, but confined their
operations TO the western end In
1884 the British established protec.
torate over the southwestern portion
OF the country, and the Germans an
nexed the northeastern part the same
year. The three countries agreed on
boundaries In 1885, but their partition
of the land was almost wholly I'M &C
tlon on piper. for there had been little
exploration of the interior. Each cOun
try In the years since has established
n few trading and mission posts and
plantations In the coast country anC
has set up the skeleton OF govern
ment, whose functlonlng. however. hai
had little effect In the Interior.
The British portion OF Papua hai
had the stntuS Of a territory Of th'
federal government Of Australia sine
lOO0. and the recent action OF M
League OF Nations In placing the for
mer German New Guinea In Australia
hands under mandate gives that com
monwealth control OF little over hal
OF the Islands total area.
Strange Animal Life.
The animal life OF the worlds big
gest tropical island, like that Of neigh
boring Australia. Is strange an
bizarre In western eyes. In ancien
geologic nges Papua and Austrglli
we're connected. Apparently for mil
Hons Of years they have been scra
rated entirely from the rest OF TN
world. so that their animal types sr
survival from the remote past. VII
the exception OF the pig, which proha
bly, was brought from Asia relatiVel
recently. ali Of the mammals OF Ne'
Guinea are either marsuplals who
carry their young In pockets. like III
opossum and the kangaroo. or an
beasts that lay eggs like birds.
What New Guinea lacks In beast
Of the Geld II makes up In birds O
the air. As the home OF hundreds o
species Of feathered creatures. II
more favored than many other POI
lions OF the earth's surface. Its dens
tropical forests are. alive with them
birds Of almost every conceivable EiE
and shape and OF q bewllderlng con
binatlon OF colOrs. Most striking q
the many birds that count New Chine
their home Is the gorgeously co
0red and beautifully formed bird-o
paradise. Most interesting Is the n
mantle and Ingenious bOwer-hir'
which builds q pleasure dome" solel
a. a place for ia I0ve-makIns.