The Marshall Islands

50 Years Ago

Letter to the Editor TN the January issue of the Pacific Islands Monthly, I read an article from a correspondent in Apia, Samoa, dealing with the Marshall Islands 50 years ago.

Noticing several errors therein I would like to correct them for the information of both your correspondent and your read ers.

I arrived in Jaluit, Marshall Islands, as one of the crew of a 90-tons schooner from Hamburg, on Christmas Day, 1884, a few months after the German gunboat Nautilus had declared the Group a German Protec torate. I worked in the Marshalls as a sailor, bosun, mate, and trader until 1903, when I left for the Gilbert Islands, where I have resided ever since. Thus I have been for over 51 years a resident of these islands.

I speak both the Marshall and Gilbertese languages fluently, and am well acquainted with their legends, etc., but I have never yet heard a word regarding cannibalism.

Further, there are only 31 atolls in the Marshall Group—not 50 as your correspon dent informed us.

The Marshall Islanders are one of the gentlest races in the Pacific. The “con tinuous wars” were never very bloody and without any great losses on either side.

Women and children were never anywhere near the fighting lines. There were no wars after 1885, when Chief Lailik, of Majuro Island, set out with a fleet of 30 canoes for Aurh to fight Chief Murjil of that island. The fleet did not arrive at Aurh, and was never heard of again, apparently having been lost at sea.

During all my time in the Marshalls, 1 never heard of the natives being “required to build roads” to show their “submission to European rule.” Your correspondent seems to have become a little confused.

Possibly he was thinking of Ponape, in the Caroline Group, where the people of Jekoits village were ordered to build roads, receiving one shilling a day and cancella tion of taxes as payment.

These people strongly objected to the building of the roads as they realised that it would inevitably bring them more under the supervision of Government officials.

An upheaval eventually occurred and two or three (I am not quite sure of the figure) white officials were murdered. The natives were punished, and deported to Yap, in the Western Carolines.

The Marshall Islanders were always amenable to law and order after the Ger man flag was hoisted. Had they been ordered to build roads whilst Dr. A. Hahl was Governor of New Guinea, I am sure they would have done so without “the women coming out in support of the Gov vernment.”

I can vouch for the foregoing facts, and I hope they. will correct any erroneous ideas regarding the Marshall Islands that might have formed in the minds of your readers.

I am, etc.,

M. Reymond.

Butaritari, Gilbert Islands, May 30, 1936.

Mr. E. L. Leembruggen, formerly Gov ernment Secretary at Ocean Island, Gil bert and Ellice Islands Colony, sailed from Sydney by the Aorangi recently en route to Fanning Island, to be Administrative Officer for a term. He was accompanied by Mrs. Leembruggen.