The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-26

mangroves, tells the whole story Of
many Of the smallest. Nobody knows
how many or how large they are. One
careful estimate is 1000 islands, will
a total area of $40 square miles.
Sown in the form of an inverted T
| the islands stretch 2,462 miles east and
west, just north Of the equator, from
Lord North island, the westernmost OF
the Carolines, to Mile Atoll, the east
| ernmost of the Marshalls; and LILO
miles north and south from Pajaros,
! the most northern of the Marianas, to
| Greenwich. in the Carolines. Small as
they are, they stake out about 1,500, 900
square miles in the North Pacific.
Resort of Many Kinds of People.
Men of many nations-Portugues
Spanish, English, American, French,
Russian, German, and now japanese
have wandered through the islands
in the past centuries. They came as
explorers seeking Ell Dorados, soldiers
to conquer new lands for their kings,
pirates to recuperate in the balmy
tropics, missionaries to teach and
trade, "blackbirders" gathering labor
ers for the plantations of New Zea-
land and Australia, beach-combers
drifting out their aimless existence,
and all the strange medley of human
ity that life's eddies cast into strange
corners of the world.
Each has left mark, a mere fleet
ing touch-the name of an island,
river, mountain peak, or a family.
But unconquerable nature is I'M
changed and the tropical jungle has
covered the scars of their works, while
the white skins darken with each gen.
Grafton and the family name is but
memory of an ancestor gone and for
gotten.
Ponape Is about the center of the
Japanese mandatory Islands. Its life
and customs may be taken as a stand
ard for all the others. Those who have
passed their lives along this border Of
the equator say 1t Is the cleanest,
healthiest and happiest.
The extent Of American missionary
activity can be gagged by the length
of the women's skirts. In zap, which
missionary influence has hardly
touched. the fluffy fiber upholstering
clings precariously on the fat hips. In
the Marianas and middle Carolines
skirts start above the waistline. In
Kusaic, the easternmost of the Caro-
lines, they reach to the shoulders in
one-piece wrappers. In the Marshalls,
where the missionary work has -four
ished without interruption, the long
trained wrappers, sweeping up the
dust, are further ornamented with high
ruffle collars and wrist-length sleeves.
Tattooins Dying Out.
Formerly the natives were walking
pictorial histories. After the mission
aries came, tattooing was discouraged,
and in recent years 1t has been pro-
hibited. 1t was considered sign of
without which young man
or young woman was not worthy to
marry.
The young people still practice an
sffete modification of all the old tests
If courage by pricking cicstrices. or
little raised welts, on their flesh. Most
If the girls prefer the right shoulder
Tor the adornment, though some have
hem on their breasts. The boys adorn
shoulders and chests.
Hospitable, good-natured and easy
,oing, the Ponape natives have a tenn
yer which flames into wild revolt when
20, -
July revolution against the Spaniards
n which the governor and four others
we're killed. carpenter being the only
me able to escape to the warship
Iaria Molina, was precipitated when
road boss forced the natives to pick
p rubbish with their hands.
The next revolution, in 1891, started
yer the rivalry between an American
Mission church and new one estab-
shed by the Spaniards near Metala-
i'm harbor, on the east side of the
'lsnd. The natives disposed of an Of
Ger and % soldiers who interfered In
ne religious competition, and when a
lrger force of two officers and fifty
)ldiers was sent from the garrison at
onape their worldly worries ended
18th similar celebrity.
A transport with 5000 soldiers came
ON the Philippines. 1t went ashore
4 the reef outside of Metalanim, and
the ensuing melee. according to the
idow of the American adventurer
no later piloted the transport off the
EFF, three natives and 1.500 soldier
ent to another world to settle theii
ligious differences