STRANGE ISLANDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1922, Page 5

STRANGE ISLANDERS.

AN INVESTIGATOR’S STORY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, July 27. Captain Pitt lecturing before the University Science Society, gave aa interesting account of his investigations in the island of Aua, Biamarok Archipelago. ( The inhabitants are light-brown skin- z ned and straight or curly haired, of pronounced Malayan type, quite distinct from all other peoples of the other islands of the New Guinea Archipelago. Many peculiar tribal customs are observed. The religion of the Allans consists of the worship of the spirits of the Paulas, or head chiefs, none of whom remain, the last having died in 1906. Now only the minor dtaefa are called Paulas. The spirits of Paulas, however, remain as the ruling spirits. These spirits are invoked at feasts where food is dedicated to them as placatory offerings. Tn 1903 two Germans, Matthies and Reimers, established a trading station on the island. The Auans resented thia and, during the absence of Matthies, killed Reimers and threw his body into the sea. Matthies later returned with a number of armed islanders, upon which the inhabitants of the district

which had made war against the Germans, sailed away in big war canoes. A storm arose and destroyed most of the canoes. 800 islanders perishing. After the tragedy the islanders became reconciled to Matthies, who married the last Paula’s daughter. For the last 18 years Matthies has lived like a native chief on the beet term*, with his people.