The Coolidge examiner., 1935-04-12

u east OF New Guinea. Is dwin-
ding so rapidly that II appears
there will be few inhabitants on the
islands In q decade or two. In 1907,
there were about 5000 natives. To
day there are only about $50. Pass
ing through many OF the islands
villages. one notices cleared patches
and ruined houses, witnesses OF the
tragedy OF OntonR Java. The ma
lives have fallen easy prey to ma
laria. tuberculosis. influenza and
other diseases.
White men tried to root out the
natives old customs instead OF al
lowing them to die gradually: and
they were only partly successful.
The old color and ritual have gone.
leaving In their place monotony of
life and more or less sordid out
look.
To find what the old time was
like, one has to 20 10 the older men
OF the vIllage--a procedure far less
satisfactory TO scientists than ac-
tual observation.
Fishing is the main occupation OF
the men. Before they can fish, how
ever. they must have canoes. and
before canoes are made there must
be- tools. Since there are no metal
lie ones. and the soft coral Is un-
suitable for stone implements, tools
formerly were made from clam
shells. which are heavy and capa-
bile Of being polished. Many OF
these shells are more than two feet
across. They were ground with
pumlce washed up by the tide.
Few Trees on Island.
Because there are so few trees on
the island. not nearly enough 10 pro-
vide boats for quarter Of the pres
ent population. canoes usually are
made from driftwood. especially
plentiful after the northwest gales
TO which the group Is liable from
November to March. One sees logs
that have possibly drifted half
around the world before they come
10 rest on the beach.
The logs are towed TO the work.
shop where all canoes on Leuaniua
island are made. The village magi-
clan Is then summoned 10 strike the
FIRST blow and thus charm away
evil spirits. so that the wood can
be shaped with lmpunity. Nova
days ID takes two men, working
about six hours day. two months
20 make n canoe. or even longer II
the canoe be a large one. Before
steel tools were used the work
must have taken much longer.
The log is first shaped on the
outside: next. the inside Is roughly
clipped out. and from then on the
outside and the inside are Clipped
alternately until the shell OF the
hull is OF desired thInness. A
strake Is Iashed on with tough fiber
and the space calked with coconut
husks. The whole canoe Is rubbed
over with a coarse seaweed resem-
bling lime; this not only seals up
any cracks. but serves as a coating
OF white paint.
The outrigger booms are added
from three 10 nine. according TO the
size Of the canOe-and TO these Is
attached the outrigger float. De
tachable peaks are made for the
bows and the stern TO defect the
waves Then. after being charmed
once more by the magician, the
canoe is ready for the water.
Three-cornered sails. formerly
made from pandanus leaves, are cut
now from light canvas or calico.
The canoe is always sailed so that
the wind strikes 1t on the side of
the outrigger; otherwise it would
capsize. II cannot sail against the
wind. Though the canoes are not
very seaworthy and are liable to be
swamped, they have carried passen-
gers on many long voyages.
Almost all the men go out daily
I'm the canoes 10 catch fish. and they
come home laden. If it is too
stormy to use the canoes, a crowd
goes to the lee side Of the island
to fish on the reef. Each man car
ries two nets. tied to two sticks in
such a way as to form triangular
bags. After advancing in line
along the reef for some distance,
the men form a semicircle, with the
shore as a diameter. They close in
slowly. and. when they are all close
together, rush forward with shout
to catch the surrounded fish.
Children Have Their Task.
The children wait on the shore
with baskets, into which the hauls
are thrown. Again and again the
process is repeated, till each man
thinks he has caught enough.
A shoal of fish offshore may be
surrounded In much the same way,
the fisherman going in canoes, each
provided with a long net. The nets
are joined together, the shoal Is
surrounded, and the fish are driven