The Solomon Islands.

Manawatu Herald, 21 November 1899, Page 2

The Solomon Islands.

9 "~^ The editor of the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, says:— "The importance of this group to Australia in the not very distant future can scarcely be exaggerated," yet we have writers who complain at the British government acquiring the balance of these islands which had been under German protectorate. The islands lie 500 miles east of New Guinea, and stretch 600 mites south-east in two parallel chains. The total area of land in all the group is computed at 16,927 square miles, one half of which was German and the* other half British. The people, who are supposed to number 176,000, -are Papuans or Melanesians, and^ are savage cannibals, and are divided into a number of tribes. These islands are under the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, who is assisted by deputy Commissioners,

Many of the islands are very large and contain extensive tracts of very fertile land. On the north-west end of the island of Guadalcanar there are large plains of well-watered , lands stretching far inland to the base of the lofty range of the mountains in the centre of the island, which rise some 8000 feet. This land would be very suitable for the growth of sugarcane and other tropical products. The extent and beauty of many of the islands in the Russell and Rubeana groups needs to be seen. The large islands have all a high mountain range in the interior which is generally nearer to the south side than to the northern one, so that the land is steener and more broken on the southern; side. The island is gener- - ally woojded from the very lap of the sea to the top of the range. On the south s^de the mountains often rise abruptly; with deep gullies and ravines which seem to terminate in many instances' inland at the base of steep peaks, an the sides of which landslips axe plainly visible. Many small

streams and rivers will be fooncl» the lar^e beds of which show that a great volume of water- must find its way down them in the rainy season. The rainfall in this group is an extraordinary heavy one, estimated at 500 inches un the mountains and 150 inches on the coast. On the northern side the land is generally more sloping, and often comparatively flat near the coast, whilst the thick bush is oftea broken by lerge tracts of open country » covered with thick coarse grass. The r climate is very enervating and unhealthy, especially during the rainy season, though the range of temperature is not great, the maximum being not more than 98 degrees, and not lower than 70 degrees. The traders, however, manage to reside in the group for a considerable number of years. The people are of the sub-Papuan race, but vary a good deal in appearance in the different islands. The general characteristics are : average height of men, five feet four inches, the women being about five feet; colour, a sooty-brownish black ; hair, tufted generally, but sometimes crispy ; projecting brows with deeply sunk eyes, short nose depressed at root, thickish lips, and a receding chin. The men are bright and intelligent, learn to speak English readily, and when away from home make good workers. The women have pleasing features when young, but soon lose their good looks as they grow older. The chiefs have no absolute power as in Eastern Polynesia, nor is the title hereditary. Cannibalism Is practised amongst most of the tribes. The houses are well built of bamboo, cocoanut, or areca palm, and are about 25 to 30 feet in length by a breadth of 15 or 30 feet, and about 8 or 10 feet in height. In some village* the houses are built on piles, and so raised about six feet from the ground. The Tambu House, is the largest and most important house in the village. It is generally 60 feet in length and 20 to 25ft wide: Women are forbidden to enter it, the war canoes are kept there, and skulls of ordinary men, and the dead bodies of chiefs are also placed in it. It is always ornamented and carved with representations of sharks, canoes, human and other figures. Head hunting is the principal cause of the raids which are periodically made upon the large islands. It is an instance of the widespread Papuan custom that requires human sacrifices on great occasions, such as the building of a house or launching of a canoe. In Isabel island, where the natives have suffered most from the visits of the head hunters, the need of protecting themselves from these raids has caused the natives to build tree-houses. The Rev. Mr Penny describes one : — The tree in which the house is built must have been 150 feet high. The lower branches had been cut away, leaving a bare straight stem below the platform on which the house was built, 80 feet from the ground. It was, reached by a ladder. The floor, smooth, flat, and perfectly clean, was made of split bamboos closely plaited }. these had been laid on a layer of soft bark which again rested on the woodwork of the platform.' The side walls were made of bamboos firmly lashed together, and the roof was thatched with the leaves of the sago palm. A heap of sand on which to make a fire was kept in its place by a ruck of stones, and yams and water were kept in the house. The interior measured 30ft by 15ft wide. Forty people had once taken refuge there. When an enemy appears the women and children go up into these houses, where they are followed by the men if they havenot to flee from a superior force. Then they throw down stones on the heads of the enemy. A large pile of these stones is always kept in readiness fot defence on the platform outside. The clothing of the natives is of very scanty description. Food is plentiful, and consists of yams, taro, cocoanuts, bananas, and other tropical fruit. A fine nut, known for trading purposes as the almond nut is much used, and will doubtless be exported as it produces a very fine clear oil. The principal articles of export are copra, tortoise shell, bech-de-tner, and ivory nuts. The principal trade is carried on by vessels trading from Sydney and Fiji.