Old-Time Weapons Of The

Gilbertese

GILBERT ISLANDERS armed with old-time swords (edged with sharks’ teeth) and wearing helmets of porcupine-fish skin and coir armor. Before the Gilbert Islands came under the British flag late in the nineteenth century, native factions were almost continually engaged in land wars—stimulated by the smallness of the islands in proportion to the large population.

Even to-day the land title claims have not all been settled, although a Native Lands Com mission has been working to that end since —Australian Museum Photo.