LIFE IN NEW HEBRIDES.

Northern Advocate, 9 April 1914, Page 4

LIFE IN NEW HEBRIDES.

WORK IN MELANESIA

The present unsettled state of affairs in the New Hebrides is bringing those comparatively little known islands into considerable prominence. Special interest, therefore, attaches tea description of the conditions of life there, as given by members of the Melanesian Mission who were recently in Auckland on furlough. The recruiting of natives is a fruitful source of discussion, and troubles of different kinds are constantly cropring up to relieve life of monotony for missionaries, planters, and natives alike. So long as a native joins a recruiting party voluntarily, all is well, bat the term voluntary is somewhat eiastic, and many allegations of foul play have been made from time '.o time. The native temperament is highly excitable, and under certain coercive influence a native will affix his "mark"- to an agreement binding him over to service he would gladly get out of when he returns to his normal senses. Every recruiting steamer is supposed to carry a Government official, but it is alleged r at this regulation is very frequer.Lly disregarded. Under a certain section of the Condominium code, the recruiting o f women is permit si ble, but this is a deplorable thing, excepting in cases

where a woman and her husband

agree to work together, for it leads to x lhe grossest abuse of the practice, of legitimate recruiting of men, and very frequently to the moral ruin of the woman herself. Left to themselves, the Melanesians preserve a fairly high moral tone, but under sinister outside influences they rapidly degenerate.

WHITE WOMEN'S SOLITARY LIFE. • With-the exception of traders, the missionaries are the only wMite people on most of the islands. There are in Auckland at present two ladies who. have lived among the natives on Mota Island, in the Banks Group, for nearly two years past, with never a . g?impse of a white face .excepting during the brief visit of the Southern Crosstwice a year. "My first impression, on coming here on furlough," 'remarked one of them, "was the, number of wliitefaces and the clothing! It seemed so queer, after Mota, with al! its dark-skinned, scantily-clad / people!" Mota Island itself is an island of

exquisite' loveliness, covered with ' luxuriant tropical vegetation. The natives on this island are affectionate, simple-hearted folk, who call .their

white teachers "mother," placing in them the utmost confidence and , reliance. Classes are held every day in the bamboo schoolh-ouse, all instructions being given in the native language, which members of the mission learn while at Norfolk Island. The housework is done by native girls, and many strange experiences their white mistresses go through during the, period of instruction. REPLENISHING THE" LARDER.

One of' drawbacks to life on these far-off islands is the scar-

city of fresh food. Beyond yams, cocoanuts, a few native fruits and

fish, all the food"used on the mission

stations is canned, from butter to beef. .Owing to'the damp heat, therd is great difficulty in keeping food from growing mouldy.' Flour and-

biscuits are attacked by the weevil, and the condition of the food at times

is beyond description. Supplies only come twice a year, via the Southern Cross, so that if the vessel happens to be delayed, the food'question is apt to grow acute. . . ■. , The climate of Mota is moderately healthy, as tropical islands go, although every-white person contracts the island fever after living there any length of time.. This is hardly surprising when one learns . that /the thermometer registers over 90 de-

grees all the year round, in winter often mounting to 93 degrees! With this, there is also a lot of,rain.' Work such as , these women-mis-sionaries perform needs the highest moral courage and spiritual enthu-

siasm, for they are often called upon

to meet : situations that the ordinary woman would quail to face, and many sad tasks fall to their lot in caring for the sick and .the suffering. SOME NATIVE . SUPERSTITIONS. The is probably the most superstitious creature on the face of the earth. He believes im-

plicitly in -'m,anaj" ot "influence." Stones of odd shape may have "mana" to perform the most staggering miracles, but no superstition is too quaint or far-fetched for the ■' Melanesian.