The New York herald., 1921-12-25

JcNann huDary, tne SclentlSt, who
had made in 1874 of the ruins of
canals off the east coast of Ponape
which has outlived the facts of its
origin" writes Junius B. Wood. in
the National Geographic Magazine.
Storms through countless generations
have filled the broad, straight canals
until the sands are dry at low tide. but
the wall Of heavy basaltic monoliths.
In some places thirty feet high. have
withstood typhoons and earthquakes,
proof Of a civilization forgotten when
Quiros came. in 1895, and found the
natives living then in fiimsy houses OF
thatch and sticks.
Charles Darwin. Il. w. Christian, the
Rev. Macmillan Brown, DR.. Amberg
and others of greater or lesser fame
have delved in the ruins near Metalanim
Harbor and evolved theories of their
origin. They do not agree whether the
patch Of land. 1900 yards long and
half as wide once was a tropical Venice
or whether through the ages 1t has
been gradually sinking. swallowed by
the sea and smothered by vegetation.
The waves still beat against its massive
sea wall, while hundreds of little shell
rings used for money and necklaces.
can be found even to-day.
One incident chronicled by all the
scientists. like the fragment Of bone
from which the archaologist recon-
structs a dinosaur is that metal
spearhead was once found in the ruins,
and another. less generally known.
comes from Capt. John j. Mahlmann OF
Yokahama that forty years ago he
copied two Chinese ideographs carved on
one of the big stones. However. the
whereabouts of the spearhead is un-
known and the letter, which the Eng
lish captain sent to Shanghai, was lost
again.
Origin a Mystery.
Some say modern buccaneers built the
city Of stone without the natives know
ing it. others trace it to the Copper Age.
and the present Japanese claim it wa.
the work of their ancestors. who built
the uncemented fort In Osaka.
A similar deserted city stands in the
hills on the mainland of Ponape, back of
the port Of Ronkiti, on the southwest
corner Of the island. Near this Is the
home of Henry Nanpel, a. remarkable
native chief. who has travelled extern
sively in Europe and America and is
the bulwark of the Christian work on
the island. He probably could tell more
about the ruins than any other man,
but the scientists have confined their
researches to Nanmatal, which Is more
easily accessible.
Kubary first searched Nanmatal for
Godefroy's museum. and when Governor
Berg was In the islands he shipped so
many specimens to the Leipzig Museum
that the Government sent an expedition
to clear away the jungle and study the
City and the slightly different ruins on
the island of Kusaie.
The latter aJjoin the settlement, and
as soon as the expedition left, the ma
tives. directed by an unawed American
planter, supplemented the visitors la
bors by using good portion of the un-
covered walls for building a break
water and pier, greatly to the wrath OF
the Leipzig students of ancient history
when they heard about it. year later.
After his last visit to the Nanmatal
ruins Governor Berg died suddenly, JUS
tifyi..S the native superstition that the
gods punish intruders.
The present Governor has a big white
book in which visitors, either after ex-
ploring Nanmatal or discussing it in the
cool of his residence. are requested to
write their opinion OF It's origin.
Tho sight of the massive walls, silent
and impressive. still surrounded by the
narrow. straight canals and overgrown
with jungle, is worth the blistered back.
wet feet and skinned slins necessary to
reach the ruins. However, the present
method, more reassuring for Governors
and less strenuous for visitors, may be
equally conclusive.
Night on Ponape.
The broad road from the headquarters
residence to the village below was a sill
vered path between black walls of trees.
Only the stars were in the sky that
night, and nowhere are they as bright
as in the tropics.
Through the still air from a native
settlement along the bay came the oc-
casional thump of drum and the echoes
OF laughter. The big parade ground
was silent and deserted, the old Spanish
wall and the new Japanese schoolhouse
ghostly in the starlight No spooning
couples were in the village park.
The local police turn in early in
Ponape. The Governor says he has ar
rested only twenty-five men, all for
stealing. One took a bottle Of saki from
the Japanese store and the others eloped
TO short distances with their friends
wives. AS the authorities discourage
primitive methods of vengeance. local
homewreckers ara put in Jail.
The house who're was going was
dark, but alive with the deep breathing
of many sleepers. II was a pretentious
dwelling long and low, like a field bar