ROTARY CLUB

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10563, 17 April 1928, Page 3

ROTARY CLUB

“SOLOMON ISLANDERS AND THEIR CUSTOMS.” Address by the rev. t. dent A most instructive address on “The Solomon Islands” was given to members of the Rotary Club yesterday by the Rev. T. Dent, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand. Rotarian Muir was in tho chair. ' Mr Dent gave a vcA'y lucid description of tho main features of the Solomon Islahd group. He pointed out that, as it lay so close to the equator, the . weather did not vary much the whole year round. In winter as‘in summer, there were practically twelve hours of sunshine and twelve hours of darkness. It was quite a mistake to suppose that the islands were formed of coral for they possessed mountain ranges running up to 10,000 feet. The rainfall on the islands averaged about 150 inches per annum ami. at - times', as they might well imagine, they had very heavy tropical downpours. Such a substantial rainfall kept the atmosphere humid and the conditions were trying till one g°t accustomed to them. A feature of the islands was the wonderful wealth of vegetation and fruits. The Natives, in addition, were well off in the matter of game and. fish.

Describing the customs of the Solomon Islanders. Mr Dent said that women at childbirth were sent away to' some isolated spot near the seaside, receiving no attention whatsoever. They were daily in peril from the alligators in adjacent swamps, which had a habit of watching their prey for, perhaps, two or three days before springing upon it. Sometimes it was the mother who was devoured and sometimes the child was the vie tim. As regards marriage, the parties were betrothed by the chiefs of the villages concerned, the parents usually having no say at all iri the matter. The death customs were also explained. He said that, after death, the body of a chief was placed in a recumbent position, wailing Was indulged in by the women, and a death danc-e followed. The body was then placed in the hollow of a tree to decompose and subsequently the head was removed, with due ceremony, to the head-house. Air. Dent went on to say- that the Solomon Islanders had nob been cannibals in the strict sense of the term. They were a very superstitious rui-e and a system of human sacrifice had arisen to ward off supposed evil influences. No dedicatory function could take place without sacrifice and usually the bonniest girl in the village was selected as the victim. It was considered an evil- omen if n child were still-born or if twins were born, one child always being killed. Air Dent conclude-] by saying that there was no intention to Europeanise the Solomon Islanders. They were Melanesians and were ofl lower intelligence than the Polynesians. Small in stature, they were wiry and very very fond of outdoor sport, playing rugbv and cricket, as well as their own rostimes. with keenness. It was realised, however, that they could not mix successfully with other peoples and the aim was to make them a happy, liealthv, contented and prosperous people in their own island home. ("Applause.)

On the motion of Pofarian Kenway, who referred to the great pleasure which the address had afforded. AH Dtent was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks.