HEAD HUNTERS OF THE SOLOMONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 6

HEAD HUNTERS OF THE SOLOMONS

-Guadalcanal Salomon Isds,, May 30. Since tho beginning of tho war head hunting has revived' to an alarming extent, aud the condition of things on Choiseul Island is far worse than over it was in tho old days. As yet no European has been attacked, but the success of raids on native villages has so encouraged the raiders that planters are constantly on their guard.

The Choiseul Wanders hare already Gent challenges to tho quieter islands of Eonongo and Vella Lavella, and mate no sccrct of a projected raid on New Georgia. A tew years ago, before liead hunting became unfashionable, tho lastnamed islands made very successful raids on Choiseul. When war broke out tho raids assumed very serious proportions, but the sight ot' transports and men-o'-war on their way to German territory produced a temporary lull. Freedom from punishment, however, produced on the minds of the natives tho inevitable, impression of immunity. Hitherto Choiseul has been a good rccruting ground for native police, but n. recent recruiting- try} there was a total failure, as the young men are all required at home to protect their villages. As policemen they would be useless' for protection. A "bag" of 1G lieads at one small village is a poor night's work, and as the raids are almost perpetual, there has been a terrible _ decrease in population.—Sydney "Sun."