Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-09-21

largest clam. The shells OF these hug1
bivalves often weigh 900 pounds, and
the meat alone 20 pounds.
Religiously. New Guinea is a mix
ture, just as II Is politically. MOham-
mechanism has slight foothOld on
the west coast, due to the contact Of
the tribes there with the MOhammed-
ans Of the islands extending OF to-
ward Asia. Christian missions are
located at intervals along the coast
all around the island, but the number
of natives so far Christianized Is
small. On some OF the tiny islands
lying In the strait between New
Guinea and Australia entire cOmmu-
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
miliar, we are likely TO consider its eX-
tent rather vague. If the island could
be laid down along our Atlantic coast
we would soon appreciate its vasness.
1t Is approximately 1900 miles long,
and would reach from the southern
tip Of Florida to the nOrthernmoSt
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 100000 inhabitants.
History Of the Island.
New Guinea was discovered more
than half a century before Australia
was first sighted; but while the latter
/ has come 10 have a population or
/ 5.OOO.OOO white people. and is the seat
/ Of an important. modern Christian gov
eminent. the former is still almost
l the undisputed domain of savagery.
The Dutch laid the first claim 10 ter
rltory in the island, but confined their
operations TO the western end. In
/ 1884 the British established a 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 an &c
ton ON paper, 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 and
has set up the skeleton Of a govern
ment. whose functlOning, however, has
had little effect In the interior.
The British portion Of Papua has
had the status Of a territory OF the
/ federal government OF Australia since
/ 1905 and the recent action Of the
League Of Nations IN placing the Tor
n,er German New Guinea in Australian
hpnds under mandate gives that com
monwealth control of little over half
OF the islands total area.
Strange Animal LIfa-
The animal life Of the worlds big
gest tropical island, Ike that Of neigh
boring Australia. is strange and
bizarre in western eyes. In ancient
geologic ages Papua and Australia
were connected. Apparently for mil
lions Of years they have been sepa.
rated entirely from the rest Of the
world. so that their animal types are
survival from the remote past. With
the exception Of the pig. which prOba-
bly, was brought from Asia relatively
recently. all OF the mammals OF New
Guinea are either marsupials which
carry their young in pockets. like the
OpOssum and the kangaroo. or ara
beasts that lay eggs like birds.
What New Guinea lacks In beasts
of the field 1t makes up In birds Of
the air. AS the home OF hundreds OF
species Of feathered creatures. IL Is
more favored than many other pOr-
lions OF the earth's surface. Its dense
tropical forests are alive with them
birds Of almost every conceivable size
and shape and Of q bew1ldering com
bination Of cOIOrs. Most striking OF
the many birds that count New Guinea
their home is the gOrgeously col
ored and beautifully formed bird-of
paradlse. Most interesting Is the no
mantle and ingenious b0wer-bird,
which builds a pleasure dome" solely
as a place for It's l0vemaking.