The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-03-25

With Fiji
Islanders
Eureka Soldier Has
Many Experiences in
Islands of South Pacific
MANY OF THE NATIVES
SPEAK ENGLISH

ENGLISH
EUREKA.-One of those things
one dares only dream of came true
this past week when Sgt. Sterling
Schagel walked up to the window of
the. Majestic Theatre and said,
Tickets for two please His sis
ter, Helen, having glimpsed a uni
form, was busy preparing pass
which the manager kindly gives to
all service men, when it occurred
to her the voice was familiar and
on looking up, found her brother
whom she had thought in GuadaI-
canal standing before her. Sgt.
Schagel leaves Thursday evening
for New Jersey where he will en-
ter officers training in the signal
corps.
One of the most interesting even
ings of a life was spent by your
correspondent with Sgt. Schagel as
he recounted his experiences in the
South Seas and showed his many
little souvenirs and trophies of that
region. He went to the FIJI Islands
about August | and as they lay at
anchor they had their first sight OF
"the law" in that country in the
person of FIJI policeman in bril-
liant uniform of shiny blue blouse.
white skirt which was a series of
pointed scallops about the bottom
and was wrapped about him and
held in place with a broad red sash.
His hair standing out from his head
at least six inches, is the pride of the
Fiji and they never cut it shorter.
His only other garb was jodo belt
showing he had passed his examina-
ton In that art and he carried no
weapon. However, the ordinary ma
tive Fiji wears nothing but COCO
nut shell tied about his waist to
protect him from the flies and mos
quitoes. Sterling tells US that the
mosquitoes have no swing shift
there but work ia two, II hour
shifts. This is literally true with
the variety working at night be-
ing the type which carries malaria.
They know exactly when to 60 ITO
work" for the days are divided in
half SO equally with no twilight at
the equator.
NATIVES LOVE AMERICANS
The women and children were all
taken to the hills before the soldiers
arrived and none of them was seen.
The natives love the Americans and
eagerly show their affection in re-
turn for any little kindness. They
are deeply religious and sincere in
their living. Two of Sgt. Schagel's
special friends among the natives
were from Island of Malekula in
the New Hebridies and they told
him of an Episcopal mission there
to which they belonged and which
was in charge of lone missionary
These two offered him many con-
fidcnces not given to others and he
learned of the courtship customs Of
the natives. 1t seems the boys live
on one side Of the village, the girls
on another. If a boy sees a girl
that appeals to him he takes her for
walk on the seashore They walk
and talk but never kiss, even after
marriage. Their courtship consists
in few weeks of this type of COM
munion, often just sitting and look
ing into one another's eyes. Perhaps
we could learn something from them
by way of sanitation, ct cetera, at
that They all speak English be-
cause of the missionary training but
also have their native language
The one unforgivable sin is to kill
the natives pig, which he values
above all other possessions. On the
island where the mission is located,
cannibals are also found up in the
hills. They seldom eat others ex-
cept when they 60 to war and kill
in battle. They eat their victims
and believe that they will, by SO
doing, receive his good points of
characterize bad qualities die
with the person.
ORCHIDS I'm PROPULSION
The vegetation on the islands is
extremely dense and is brilliant in
color and shines as though it had
been waxed Orchids grow in pro-
fusion and bright colored birds, but
without singing ability, abound
Parrots and parrokeets are plenti-
full with some birds a solid blood
red. These start a wild and erie
chatter and scolding at daylight
Men having large wounds are TAX
en- to a cooler cline for it is some
times impossible for healing here
Dogs which have been imported are
all unhealthy and often covered
with sores.
Our boys wear T shirts and cot
ton khaki pants and all wear sur
helmets. We were told they have
plenty to eat to keep them healthy
with no loss or gain In wei CHI hlit