‘I Buried Him’

Grim Tale of 50 Years Ago

From Our Own Correspondent HONIARA. April 2.

SOMEWHAT grim tale of the early days in the British Solomon Islands was recalled recently when a new arrival sought information about one of his relations, known to have been in the Solomons with a trading ven ture some 50 years ago, and never heard of since. When an old hand was asked if he had ever heard of the missing man, the answer came back: “I buried him.”

The story is that five, out of the hand ful of traders then in the Solomons, were waiting together for a ship, and whiling away the time with gin and water.

One of the five had fever, and gin and water was the only available treatment.

After a time the sick man left the party.

It was assumed that he had gone away to bed. and no particular notice was taken of his long absence, until something in the atmosphere led the rest of the party to investigate. Then it was found that he had died of blackwater fever, quite some time before.

The planned to bury him early next day, and the four remaining members of the party were to carry the coffin. But the night was long and wakeful, and the way to the grave was uphill. Most of the party were themselves carried up to the grave, in the morning.

They had no prayerbook, and nobody could remember the burial service. But they put him in the ground, and they sang what they could remember of “Abide with Me.”

No address was found to which news of his death could be sent home, and no word of him ever reached his family, un til chance brought the story to light re cently, and news that he had died was sent to his now aged widow.