Solomons Natives

What Is Happening To Solomons Natives

TAVERN talk by Spanish sailors, in the opinion of Dr. H. lan Hogbin, lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Sydney, resulted in the name “Solomon Islands”—no mention of this name was made in any of the several reports on early Spanish ex peditions into the Pacific.

At a lecture given before the Anthro pological Society of New South Wales, on August, 17, Dr. Hogbin outlined briefly the history of the Solomon Group and described the Solomon Islander of the immediate pre-Pacific War period.

In 1567 Mendana sailed westward from America and eventually discovered On tong Java—the first land in the South Pacific to be sighted by Europeans —and thenceforth the Spaniards were preoccupied with the fabled and fabu lous land where Solomon was supposed to have obtained the gold to adorn the temple in Jerusalem, to such an extent that it can be imagined that “Solomon’s Island” figured largely in their con versation. Later, Mendana made a second voyage, this time to discover Santa Cruz (South-east Solomons); but, (from that time onward for 200 years, these lands were literally lost.

Their rediscovery by Carteret and Bougainville, in 1767-68, placed them once more on the map, with fluctuating fortunes, until the American Civil War cut off Britain’s supply of raw cotton As a source of “blackbirded” labour for the new cotton-fields of Fiji and Queens land. the Solomons made their bow to the modern world; and it was to regu late this nefarious traffic that the British assumed control of the group between 1890 and 1900.

Dr. Hogbin has spent several years doing field work in the Solomons and probably understands these islands, at least from the native point of view, better than anyone else. He has great understanding of and respect for the Solomon Islander, his potentialities and his institutions—but it is an under standing and a respect which is based on knowledge, and untinged by the sickly sentimentality with which it is fashion able to look, these days, upon anyone with a brown skin and fuzzy hair. * * * JUST what is happening to the natives, under existing conditions in the Solomons, is unknown. It is, how ever, no secret that the Japanese made no effort whatsoever to enlist them on their side by conciliatory means; on the contrary, the Japs appeared to go out of their way to treat them as badly as possible.

When the Japs landed on Guadalcanal the majority of the natives took to the mountains; when the Japs, in their turn, were hunted out by the Americans, they, too, took to the mountains, and then American artillery was trained upon these positions. The unfortunate natives, therefore, were in the position of “getting it in the neck,” both ways.

A minor result of war in this area is that all bird life has left Guadalcanal— temporarily, at any rate.

Latest news from the Solomons in dicates that native life has been practi cally demoralised. Many of the coastal natives are still in the mountains, and many of those who have returned to the coast have become hangers-on around the military camps. It is obvious, even to those who have only an elementary knowledge of Pacific peoples, that such a sudden and drastic change in their mode of life will have far-reaching

effects, and that trained men and early action will be needed to shepherd these bewildered people back into something approaching normal existence.

Mr. J. J. Young and Mr. Harry Archer, who “stuck it out” on the north coast of New Guinea long after the Japanese occupied Madang and Wewak (December, 1942), arrived in Sydney in August. They walked 300 miles across inland New Guinea in May and June last, in order to get away.

Mr. Paul Mason, who was plantation inspector of Associated Plantations, Ltd., on Bougainville, TNG, and Mr. J. W. Reid, who was DO in Bougainville district, were in Sydney in August, after a recent escape from Jap-occupied territory. Both men have been awarded the DSC by the United States authorities for services which called for initiative and great cour age—but which are still “hush-hush.”

The divorce has been pronounced by a French Court in the New Hebrides between Madame Marceline Germaine Jacquet, of Epi, New Hebrides, and the most prodigiously-named husband in the Pacific. His full name is Marcel Emile Gabriel Alfred Florent Paul Victor Rob ert Simon Alphonse Joseph Ernest Jean Louis Eugene Francois Clement Georges Germain Auguste Vandecrux. The exact whereabouts of this remarkable per sonality are at the moment unknown.

Fiji will hold a Patriotic Fete in Octo ber and, in connection with it, a three months’ drive for funds is taking place.

Subject to the approval of the War Fund Committee, funds raised will be retained in the Colony for the benefit of the men from Fiji who are serving in the Armed Services or the Merchant Navy, and their dependants. To mid-August the cash contributions alone amounted to £8.933.

The Financial Secretary of Fiji Govern ment, Captain A. E. W. Robertson, re turned to the Colony in July. He has been visiting Washington and London.