Ninigo People

Mystery Decline Of

Experts Work on Problem in Western Islands

From Our Own Correspondent MADANG, April 30.

THE islanders of Ninigo in the Western Group, about 200 miles NW of Manus, are dying out and losing in terest in life because a tired soil will produce no food. Previously birds fer tilised the soil but these have migrated and the coconut palms have drained all fertility. The plantations are deserted now and no boats are calling at the group.

On the Laurabada recently, Mr. P. Mol lison, formerly acting-senior officer at Nauru and a group of specialists, includ ing Dr. K. H. Pike, of the P-NG Medi cal Service, called at Madang on their way to the islands. They will survey the position and perhaps move the natives to an island which proves itself more fertile.

Population on Ninigo has been declin ing for the last 30 years and at present they number between 200 and 300. The Western Islanders are Micronesians — possibly a blown-away offshoot of the Caroline Islanders.

Dr. Pike will medically examine every native and attempt to determine the cause of the decline. Such declines among native peoples are, of course, not uncommon. Most Pacific races seem to have passed through this phase at some time in the last 200 years. If only the remnants can be saved, however, history has shown that sometimes they make a surprising recovery and after a period of alarming fall the population will start to increase again at a healthy rate.

It has been suggested by Mr. J. Liv ingstone, who recently was trading on the island of Ninigo, that the natives are allowing new-born female children to die.