ISLAND OF AUA

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 7

ISLAND OF AUA

THE PEOPLE DESCRIBED.

GERMAN AS CHIEF. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 27. (Received July 27, at 9 a.m.) Captain Pitt-Rivcrs, lecturing before the University Science *Society ; gave, an interesting account of his investigations in the Island of Ana., in the Bismarck Archipelago. The inhabitants have light brown skins, and straight or curly lhair. They are of a pronounced Malayan type, and are quite distinct from all other peoples of the other islands in the New Guinea Archipelago. Many peculiar tribal customs arc observed. , The religion of tho Auaiis consists of tho worship of spirits of the Raidas, or head chiefs, none of whom remain, the last having died in 1906. The spirits of the Paulas, however, remain as ruling spirits. These spirits are invoked at feasts, where food is dedicated to them as placatory offerings. In 1903' two Germans (Matthias and Reimer) established a trading station on the island. The Auans resented this, and during the absence of Matthies they killed Reimer and threw his body into tho sea. Matthies later returnee! with a number of armed islanders, upon which tho inhabitants'of tho district which had made war against tho Germans sailed away in big war canoes. A storm arose and destroyed most of tho canoes, SCO islanders perishing. After this tragedy tho islanders became reconciled to Matthies, who married the last Paula’s .laughter. For the last eighteen years Matthies has lived like a native chief, and is on the. best of terms with his people.