CAROLINE ISLANDS

Taihape Daily Times, 19 July 1919, Page 5

CAROLINE ISLANDS

.._..__o______ “WhateVer the political future of the ..Cal-oline Islandsfi which Japan seized from Germany, they are bound to be objects of scientific interest for generations to come,” according to a. bulletin by the Natioxial Georgraphic Society of America. “Who built the massive stone structures Which give evidence of a high degree of civilisation at some pre-historic time? “What was the origin of the stone currency, some ‘coins’ of which Weigh five tons? " ' “These are but two of fine many questions‘ wili_e‘n these Pacific Islands of - mystery present,” the bulletin. continues. ' .“The stone"ruin§ extend from Ponape, an island toward the east of the group, ‘to Yap, on the west. ‘ “On Yap are great stone terraces, einbankinents, and roads, composed of: neatly-laid stonefblocks,‘ =stone“>grav.e:§ stone I }'-platforms;‘4,.x§;nfl€ ;-enornious chain» hers. ‘f.""rese'in't‘§li“n“gf;" fa councyil lodges with *»ga,_b,:les and .~"=t_;i111 ':pillar"s,= frequently ~ca;y“e“d."-‘=:-,.i:_:. ,; “Ponape discloses .. the ; ’Paeific': . Vén~ ice. " There the ruins are partly sublmerged. ‘Apparently they once stood on an island city unless their site was connected with other islands before, aterrific . Hupheavfl. inundated , them. _

“What remain ‘-tO—day are more than half a hundred rectangular .walled islets, projecting above the waters of a lagoon. There is an outer lagoon separated by e breakwater three miles long, In all this censtruction huge ballas blocks werefused. Apparently they were. untouched by iron tools. V

“Origin of the "unique s_tone coinage is not known. ’ Shell money seems to have supplanted the unwieldy stone discs for ‘small change.’ long, before ‘money’ is made from limestone or calcite. It probably was employed fOl"pl‘illlitiV(3 banking rather than for general circulation. Its security from theft was assured ‘by its weight. Specimens are found piled, about the homes of native chiefféln's";.

“Including ‘roofs not inhabited, the, Carioline Islahds number more than 500. Of the total land zifrea of 390 square miles are comprised in Ponape. Yap: Kusaie, and Hogulu, or Tl-u’x_-In 1911 the total population was about 55,000 and of these fewer than 40?:

were Europeans. 0 “The islands extend for ‘about 1000 miles east and west. They he more than 1500 miles to the ea§t “of Philippines: and about 1000 miles north of New Guill%.”