Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-14
MadeA1redfu
B?yBan2jn3 Their
Heads Together


bors The islands hnan and Tlan specls,
small and naportant Tat they appear only on the arg
and detailed charts
Lying about midway between New Guinea and the
Philippines Lubnan about half mile across and little
than that in length Tlan the other is almost mile
long each direction Separated by but few hundred
yards of water there only 12o persons on the first
and not quite 200 persons the second island Both
islands keep pigs hut mostly the natives live the
free growing tropical fruits and few fish they catch with
their crude nets
Ordinarily the Dutch Government claims possession
three islands involved but the moment the eXled
London and the colonial administration at
has its hands full of important prob
overlook the plea of these two specfs
their Joint population of 800 and concentrate the
defense of the other 6oooo0oO in Sumatra Borneo Java
New Ceebes etc
AS neither the Lubnanans Tlans written
language there imposing document great i'm
pressve seals and ourished signatures There had been
exchange of notes The terms debated orally by
the two themselves although each had his
principal counselor in attendance to advise him on all mat
ters of state.
The treaty provided that in of the feared
the and children and the aged and nfirm
Of the invaded to be sheltered by the people
the The uninvaded island provide at least
ouefourh of its fighting men 10 help others defend
possession and TO endlease hundred arrows
throwing sticks per day The minvaded island was
provide food for the fighting who would not
be in a position 60 do their hunting and fishing
Should both islands be invaded the women children and
aged cook for the warriors regardless of
nationality, supply them with arrows and minister to the
wounded without discrimination OF any sort Ana each
could borrow from the other when they could be
spared to defend hard pressed sector.
Each article treaty reviewed again and again
10 make each understood the clause in
cfrrrft5H rerted the entire
treaty and the two leaders met in the middle Of the deba
ng ground First they capped hands bowed and then
sharply banged their woody heads together That made II
official
Wherever in the past and present writing
unknown other than the signature have been used
contracts and treaties and to insure their per-
Torrance Some of these methods moderns to lift
amused eyebrow.
In New Guinea native merchants get more fun out Of
arguing than Americans of world series
baseball game They'll argue for hours days when
both have made up their minds long ago to go through
with the deal When the arguing at last ends the contract
is official Each merchant the Of third
party sort of native notary public splits into small bowl
provided that purpose The native notary takes the
bowl away buries his back yard The Spite rep
resents Of each mans soul and to break the contract
would mean the loss of AT least a few weeks
contract breakers predetermined life span.
The ancient Scyhians Herodotus and other writer's
ported used TO I'm large wooden vessel with wine Then
Of the contracting parties made small ncision In his
and permitted the blood to mngle with the wine Both
parties drank of the mixture thus giving to each other
something Of themselves
couple Of centuries ago Afghanistanian treaties and
bargains discussed sliced cucmbcrs dipped in
honey When' the contracts ready the sgnatories
elaboratey prepared honeyed the other
cordng European travellers the custom stn pre-
walls in parts of the country Much the
applied in Persia where the melon used in
stead OF the cucumber.
In ancient Ceylon according very old legends when
made treaties they solemnized them by going OFT
forest taStrg there Tor three DAYS
return they'd battle one another and feast until the press
Of government business interrupted them.
Europe. too. had its odd ways centuries In
Russia during the 1lth nth Centuries contracts
sworn 20 backsmiths anvil In Bulgaria
legal unless the parties involved had spent
night the same bed In the scandinavian countries
thousand and years ago cut their and
permit'c cd the blood 10 mngle In Gothic italy. in the
Eighth Century contracts fOrmazed by having them
written very small special thin paper by profess
sona scrbcthe contracting parties then each half
- contract 10 seal the bargain.