Natives.

How To Handle

A PROFESSIONAL man who has spent very many years in different parts of the Pacific has written for Mr. A. J. Vogan, his summing up of native character, and his opinion of the best way to handle natives.

“First, I have learned that no white man thoroughly understands the natives, although he may get a cer tain amount of insight into the native mind. . . . One may win their con fidence and respect—and the latter is not an easy thing to do —but one can never get to bedrock. Even with boys I have had for years, there is always a certain amount of restraint after certain points have been passed—but, after all, it is capable of understanding —or, should I say, of being understood.

“Secondly, never get familiar with a native, I think that there lies the chief mistake of the Missions. Of course, they have to carry out that policy, but I think it is a dangerous one. If a boy comes into my camp I can tell in a second whether he is a Mission boy or not, and also, if he has been under the control of a lady.

“Thirdly, size has nothing to do with the successful handling of natives. I, myself, am only a little over 5 feet in height and my boys are from two very truculent tribes, and they range from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 2 inches, and yet during the ten years I have been in this particular Territory, I have had trouble only twice. Also, they admire what is most inelegantly, but pithily, called Gutz. Also, they like discipline. When one of my boys comes along to report or to talk to me he salutes first.

“Apropos of size, I remember on one occasion a big, burly white man, a plantation manager, camped with me one night. He had his house boys with him. The insolence he took from those boys so annoyed me that finally I took charge and booted them all out of the rest house. It is an awful thing when a native gets a hold on a white man.

“Fourthly, never break your word to a native. They think a lot of that, and they have long memories.

“These are the chief points I have worked upon and, even if I say it my self, I have been moderately success ful in dealing with natives. At times, I have been as long as six months without seeing another white man.''