LIFE IN SAN CRISTOVAL

Evening Star, Issue 18332, 20 July 1923, Page 1

LIFE IN SAN CRISTOVAL

LECTURE BY DR FOX. Dr C. E. Fox, a Church of England missionary, delivered an interesting lecture bn ‘ Native Life and Native History in San Cristoval ’ before a fair attendance in tho Museum buildings last evening. The lecture was given under the auspices of the archreological branch of the Otago Institute. The Rev. Professor Dickie presided. Dr Fox, who possesses more knowledge regarding tlie Solomon Islands than any other white man, imparted a great deal of information in regard to the life and customs of the natives of San Cristoval. The aboriginal inhabitants, he said, appeared to have been very small in Some of them were supposed to still exist in caves in the interior of the islands, but lie had never seen them. It was believed that before lire white people went to the islands these natives were often seen, but apparently they had disappeared with tlie advent of the. white man. These natives did not take the trouble to cook their food. In one part of San Cristoval there was a society of people of two moieties, formed by the fusion of the original inhabitants and the people who came later. He'was of tho opinion that the more original moiety was the Kahamora, There were two distinct types of people, and the two moieties could still be distinguished by different marks on the palms of their hands. Since the appearance of the English the customs in tho islands had been altered very much. Tho first immigrant people were the Atlawa. So far as he could make out, these people had a form of snake worship and tree worship. After outlining some very interesting details regarding the feasts and customs of the Attawa people, Dr , Fox said that the next immigrant people were the Araba, whoso customs and traditions he explained at length. The ordinary religion of the Araba was ancestor worship. A great many of the old customs were passing away as a result of the influence of the white man, the missionary, and the Government.

Continuing, Dr Fox said that the Government had practically done away with the power of the chiefs, who were scarcely recognised now. The native arts were dying out as the result of importations by the traders, and many of the scenes witnessed in the past would probably never bo seen again. These very interesting people were being destroyed by the white man’s diseases. About two years ago when influenza visited the islands 1,000 people were laid up at one time, and there was a heavy death roll. Some years ago, before an epidemic of dysentery broke out, one man showed-him forty-six villages which were inhabited, *>ut now only two of them were occupied. One good sign, however, was the number of children in the villages, but it was very doubtful .if the natives would survive. Tlie natives were a fine race in many ways, and it was hoped that those who were striving to save them would have tho sympathy of the English-speak-ing race.