SPIRIT WORSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 23, 27 July 1922, Page 7

SPIRIT WORSHIP

IN LITTLE-KNOWN ISLAND

EXPLORER'S STORY OF. AUA

A TRAGIC EXODUS.

<UN»» MMH ABSOOIAHOH.—COFTRIOitT.) (Received July 27, 10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

Captain Pitt Rivers, lecturing before the University Science Society, gave an interesting account of his investigations in the island of Aua, in the Bismarck Archipelago. The inhabitants, he stated, have light brown skins and straight or curly hair, and are of a pronounced Malayan type, quite distinct from all the other peoples of the other islands ol the New Guinea Archipelago. Many peculiar tribal customs were observed. The religion of the Auanß consists of the worship of the, spirits of the paulas or head chiefs, none of whom remain, the last having died in 1906. There are now only minor chiefs, called paavis. The spirits of the paulas, however, remain as ruling Bpirits. These spirits are invoked at feaats, where food is dedicated to thorn as placatory . offerings. In 1903, two Germans named . Matthies and Reamers established a trading' station on. the island. The. Auans ( resented this, and during the absence of Matthies they killed Reamers and threw the body into the sea. Matthies later returned with a number of armed' islanders, whereupon the inhabitants of the district which had made war against the Germane sailed away in big war-c-anoes. A storm arose and: destroyed most of the canoes, and 800 of th» islanders perished. After the tragedy the islanders became, reconciled to Matthies, who married the daughter of the last of the paulas. For the last eighteen years Matthies i has lived like a native chief, on the best terms with his people.