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111 views46 pagesNational Geographic - 1898-01 - January
National Geographic Magazine 1898
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111 views46 pagesNational Geographic - 1898-01 - January
National Geographic Magazine 1898
Uploaded by
Nathan BreedloveCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
/ 46
‘GREELY ww
HART “MERE A
al pERN Missisetert PROBLnm
UR POREIGN TRADE
mar Tp. SSSI IBN TT: Ge ae Sera
SEE HE
National Geographic Society
ORGANIZED, JANUARY, 188
A SSHIRET:
ALEXANDEE GRAHAM BELL
‘View: Paste axsere
MARCUS BAKEI AW, GIRLY
WHALIAM Hi, DAL © MART MEREIAM
GK GHABERT HERBERT GOODEN
Tawasres
HENRY GANNETT
ibcomnien Secmeriny Crmerysorss Suemer ne
VOU. SEWELL. VIAEA. REMAMATL SCIDMERE
Marasei
‘CHARLES J. WEL, EVERER HAYDEN
Me BheoNr JOHN HYDE
eV. COVILLE Wd McGEE
DAVID'T. DAY WB DOWELL
SECRETARY'S OFPICE
55. Ohio Bank Building, Tweltth and G Sts, NW. Washington
‘The National (enenpshli: Society, tho object of Whikel Ie the inireiadit und dlifiaion
bt geamphir knowin, ba a payline mmninlineiy oF 1,000, Hy uivmiliotship ie not
rivet hetonl tex yeemetbeal apace pout xt in caverns tb ashe: pin Sp munca hii ge Wi tna
de aniticeady interested intix work-tojeok admieion The ans aubaoripthod bee fit
stetine nyvenbers, 65.00. ponr ann for corresponding membisem, S201) per ariwuii. Aetiver
mecbere pay alro an yagrance feo ot $2.00 on electinn. Taw Merox Geonariie
Maaaansx is pent reuutarly to all member, both active and correnpouding::
Donations for the fousiding of Prise Madale and Scholarships are
“reapectfully solicited. nee VOL Ik, {mB FL. t
EW FRDN HOYT IELAND, LOOKIN
Ss Mun TON STRAIT TO HOGM LAND
AvOUST YR: 1eRT National Geographic Magazine
Vou. IX JANUARY, 1398 No, 1
THREE WEEKS IN HUBBARD BAY, WEST GREENLAND
By Ropar Stars,
United States Geatogiand Sureey
In 1898 T publishod a lan of Arctic explorstion fom a, base
hear Jones sound, propoeliy first to trace the west const of Elles-
mere land and afterward to explore the triangle hetweon Elles
mere and Grinnell lands.on the eastand the Parry islands on
the south. That fold was declared by General Greely to be the
‘one in all the Arctic “that promises the langest results with the
teast amount of labor and danger” Lieut. Julias von Payer de-
olared that the spot selected for the base was “the most suitable ™
and the plan “thus far the bust imaginable” Numerous weighty
authorities concurred in thisupinion, especially Lieut. Peary, who
eilled the plan" One of the dafest, most proniisiliy, aud cheapest,
avoiding hnecy, and permitting the utilizstion of experience.”
As now planned the expedition would cost £4,000,
Failing to secure the requisite funds, I decided. by Lient.
Peary’s advice, to undertake » preliminary telp to Greenland ix
onder to gain thy experience in Arctic exploration which in hie
opition would be of most-essential service in securitig Anancial
support Through tho kind assistance of the late Hon, Gardiner
G. Hubbard, President of the National Geographic Soslety, as
well ws of Major J. W. Powell, Diteetor of the Bureau of Anper-
ican Bulnology ; Prof, 3; P: Langley, Secretary of the Smithaa-
nian Institutiin, and Mr C.D. Waloott, Diteetur of the U.S.
Goulogical Survey und of tha National Museums, 1 was ‘enabled
to take advantage of Lieut. Peary's invitation to sccompany him b THREE WEEKS IN HUBRARD BAY
on hisseventh Greenland voyage, in the summer of 1897,to spend
three weeks in-exploration in an interesting field.
Liout. Ryder, of the Danish navy,explored in 1887 the bay
north of Wileox head (which I have called Hubbard bay), and
there found numerous: Esk remains, ‘The present Eskimos
of Upornivik and Tasinbak never until the spring of 1807 ex-
LOE ef ARON ECLA FRAC A RAE EER RFR ROOK er rR aSKIR
tended their hunting trips beyond the groat rookery of Capo
Shackloton, while the Cape York tribe, necording to Lieut. Peary,
never go farther south than Melville Monument. This leaves.a
gap of 140 miles. Inspector Ohlsen, at Upernivik (to: whom T
am much indebted for valuuhile ossistanee) told me that the
Eskimos of that colony had a tradition that theirancestors used
to go hunting near Wileox head, but censed to do xo about 200
* THREE WEEKS IN HUBBARD BAY a
HUBBARD BAY
ALISON pay
WOST GHEEMAND:
Souith of Psd after CH. Myer
Werth moe JA BGHing,
Heights m taer
years ao, 40 far os he ean estimate. How mach farther north
they had gone he cuuld tot tell Thos the remains fouid by.
Ryder wore of unusual interest, a ropresnting a stage when the
race was unaffected by civilization, sxeopt, perhaps, that of the 4 THREE WEEKS IN HUBARD RAY
early Norwnen. To collectsuch retains was ny main object.
Ae Lieut, Ryder sent a collection to the Ethnographic Museum
at Copenhagen, f feared that nothing of note would be left at the
sites he had touched, and therefore asked! Mr Peary to land me
Ait Capo Malm, the north end of Hubbard bay.
With three Exkimas from Uperniviic, I was laneled om Augukt
Won a headland supposed to be Cape Malm, the dense tog pre
venting accunite orientation. From the top [perceived next
morning that I was on the island next aouth (whieh | have dalled
Hoyt island), separated from Cape Malm bya chitnnel five tiles
widey filled with iveberus: As soon as the fog had lifted T pre-
poral to rowover to Cape Malin, nt who we reached. the west
end of Hoyt ishand and saw. befory. us the wild chaos of rapidly
moving igeberge, the Kekimos, thoroughly frightened, refused to
row farther, even for triple pay. Lieut. Peary had urged me to
listen to the Eskinioa' advice in regard to ice and wind, and T
recognized that under no circumstances mist 1 fail to keep my
appolitmiant to meet hin on September l, because sul failure
would snbject Lim to the inchnvenidnce of having te somrdh for
mein thoes unkown and ill-reputed waters of Melville bay,
Accotdingly, after ton minutes” parloy, finding that their appre
hensions wore: real, T turned hack,
Lnow decided to make a thorough explorntion of Hoyt island
asthe type of agroup, The island oonsists of four mountain
masses, the highest about 1,000 foot, saparatal by deep valleys.
Except on the storm-bLeatin western peninsula, which seetned
entirely bare, the southern slipes, whete not tio ner the per-
pendicular or too smoothly glaciated, are coverad with the oridi-
tary Aretie vegetation, blueberries, crowberriew, gracees, heather,
poppy, dwar! willow, dwarf bireh,and fin abordance of moss,
forming carpets inte whieh the fetank tp tothoankle. Ewere-
whore the ud was aiding down in great, black, wivy ntalanches
held together by the tough, peaty fiber, so that Hants werp often
seon growing from vertical or even overhanging surfiees. The
summits and the north flauk, a succession of nearly vertical
wlifis, are almost entirely bare of vegetation, fm the shadow of
many cliffs lay long snow banks (aput), hard ag jee,affering con-
siderable resivtanee to the knife, yet evidently uotel many years’
growth, since a hollowspace beieath them bore witness tonctive
molting. The tinkle of little streams could be heard in many
places, but only at one polut was there n watorconrsd sufficiently
dofinite to be ealled a brook. The surmiteand sides, where not THREE WEEKS IN HUBBARD BAY &
rial bewlders, different from the
hi the exosption of thy
non the north
1 Frost fieeures. Mit
into fantastic fi
oonglonm=
a Bein f the projecting
| surrounded by
In man:
pinuwoles ape y
a conical talus of glittering chombic ¢
the talus form tive as to
Nina f ler Is
Home in the y
ri
ion was 56
1s, the
nest
Heys, ober on t
extent, were
They
Iwasa seen in
art of the ret
pairs, but no other fife was o
throuted diver,
clin them. The life in the
Seals wore ee
send WoK ex abundant
day; oider d
hn
h numbering perhaps
¢ paddling over the water with rhythmiceacklo;
live with little auks (sepak), handsome in their
ved, their thin, piping voices seeming
curionsly out of proportion to the sige of the hind. The air
was alive with gulls and terns, Wherever the depth of water
permitted, the bottom could be seen comple ered with
tation, Lang strings of kelp, when drawn out of the water,
were found to harbor quit Ind of Orustaceanié and mo
A piece of 1¢ thrown into the water would be covered with
mired,
gach cove ¥
cont of bln 6 THREE WEEKS IN HUBBARD BAY
shrinpes in
antlers tes
few moments, No reindeer w
ified ta th
ignn
Th
Several sp
sooin, birt elie
The snow bunting
4 orow-
ound dhiundant food in the bil
blue!
" were fairly alive with little black
mens of a hairy
Roars had loft records of
but were not-seen, having gone away with the
lar and of adlarge
deseription ap
ity. On Taugenlite, th
of the fntid in the viein-
yun. th mir
dura furthest Great yok fissures, 20 to 100
between verti Lis, traverve that island in all diree-
tions. Réing for the miost part level-foured, they afford
thoronghfates for travel. The lovel He dently due to
gladial uction, 1 anuirilir, sone
tin Sure-
clr
fis ov
cing formed of débris, aom
«0 asta resemble wie
ive terminal m
nies Into stat
Tnugenli
vn its west side. large enough ta be inmpn
mouth,
mines have converted m
Though mu
ave
han Hoyt island;
finshes
bowlder-strewn,
summit also
ip its
— THREE WEEES IN HUBBARD BAY a
Both from Huyt igland and from Inugeulik 1 had a full view
of the inland fee of Greenland, oxtending as a white band slong
the dasternsky and discharging through the magnificent Hearst
glacier, with a front of 15 miles, casting off enormous iveberge;
which complotely blocked Hondemon bay and. came slowly,
trooping down tn a stately procession to join thy great muster of
‘their fellows in Hatlin bay. Bar above the glacier, a nunatak,
Mount Pepper, lifted ity black head ont of the inland ioe. Long:
crevasses on etch side showed that the peak was part of a pre-
eipitous wall, over which the io dropped in a caleade several
miles long.
On White inlaid, in the ceritor of Hubbard bay, 1 found at
Tast the main objeevol my quest—Eskimo remains. There were
two houses beside little lake on a low rocky spur projecting
westward, bul the main settlement was on tho onst side, in nm
most picturesquesite, conspicuous afar by the vivid green of the
abundant vegetation, Like the Carthaginians, these ancient
“Innuits had an outer and an inner harbor, separated bya ledge
of rocks, over which the tide Howed in and out. The inner
hharbor was elliptic In: outline and about 40 neres inextent. A
long knif-elge of rock protected the biys an the south, and so
high were the ridwes aod ab.deop the Lays that the water must
romain noraffled in the fiecenst storing, nulessthey come directly
from the wast, On-n lowel spice botwoon the two bayewas the:
settlement, a doxen honses, with grives scattered in’among them
and along the foot of the bills.” Dirsetly behind was a fresh-
water lake, brown with decaying matter, but aseqond and larger
lake,-some &) feet higher, was clear and pure. A few oraves
were leo fownd on the eouth side. Stone foxstraps were scat-
tered alloverthe island. The eyes af my Eskimos beamed with
delight, for to them the snug harhor, the easy landing, the low,
level plateau, the freshwater lake within a stene’s throw, In the
midstof sich abundance of animal lifé, must have sesrned a
parmlisa: Where tho wave beat had exposed n suction of the sail
it-was seen to consist of a black mines, thickly interlantod with
hones of whale, walrus, narwhal, and seal. ‘Evidently the gar
age question had not barun tovex the minds of these ancients,
So far as 1 could judge, the houses and graves had remiained un-
totdhod sitter their builders departed, though Ryder montions
renining on that island. Tho roofs. had fallen in wed the rich
humus had given rive toa rank vegetation of wrmss and ines,
whith had deeply burisd the houses,eo that some of tham could it teen iam acta ‘etre wut ns A
only ba tea
nay cliettyy
jumbled t t vit a won
plete'=keloton. As eavh grave contained several skulls, the dia
order was doubtless die the fact thatthe bones of earlier
kee rian fot new lis.
ad inthe: task o tion the foe turned
into rin, converting the mold into wslimy paste, inwhich frag-
Wf decayed | or other material could no longer be
fished. Fearing to spoil’ the material of a future and
better equipped expedition, whieh the locality richly deaaeves,
I decided to content myself with the spoila af two graves,
‘On WMehardaon island, of the two low islands south of
White island, the graves had buen opened, probably by whalers,
and the bones seattered about. Of two houses at the water's
edge, all but the back wall hind b washed away, J wes at
first disposed to attribute this to sulwidenes, but wide and deep
ke in the soil showed thatthe whole tis of peat and muck
was alowly sliding seaward.
Simtlar recosins were found! on Porter island and (sadly plun-
dered) at Wileox head, and the Hinog saw others on the
fi moved aside to fin
ri
a THREE WEEKS IN WURRARD HA) a
der mentions remains at Cape K
of Wileox head, which T did not
ow south Ryder-found “x |
yuld seem ta indieate ently Norse influent
1 to the interest of (he region.
Wititer islands
the north
house a {ttl
My three live
P them was a blond of t
if
this cthien
Etre
The whole
resting “ study: spie
est type, in whom the
ut
eye, were
blood was so
sti be imper
ture
whitesskin
yeh dark fa hair
ans, Tt is the
nis be
une ‘throughout Danish Gredoland,
aud within a
tackle of a rm
nn type at th
primitive
mplea word as eight ia ax-
Henit, of the young
at
vopulatic ing rapidly Atyanized
the ‘enridns sywe
sHerationa we shall ha
ally Aryan in blood, and of the finest Ar
Scandi ng one of th
Sarva,
avinn, yet spea
3. in which 0
and is somaw
slate surround
od Gre
f hoth: ren and
one of the French. intenations, THRER WEEKS iN HUBBARD BAY
such s4 you hear them from the lips of etiltured! Putisians—a
soft, almost plaintive, undertone, with no abrupt changes, hut
merely gontly gliding movernenta within narra liniits of piteh
andvolume. Their pooulint “r," gensseyt like the Parisian (tho
word Surmoak is often spelled) Nupsoalcijcompletes thw illusion,
Tt.aifonds me pleasure to neknowledge my indebtedness ta
Linut. Peary for fivalinhle sssistance and unvarying: kindness,
and to reverd my gratification at having been an eye-wiinessof
As minyement—a model of foresight, readiness, ebergy, fair
ness, patlerioe, and consideration. La thes qualities ane per f
elves the secretiol his magnificent wchievement and the guar
mateo of his ercwnitig success, the conquest Of the Pale in 90D,
Tncnanting features which Ryder left tinawed, f have tried ta
serve a useful purpose hy using the tiames of some of the fore
most ndvoostes of w National University ot Washington, This
may aid in giving to the movement. the publicity which;it would
. teem, is the only thing npeded to inanro its aucness,
‘Washington, Jotferson, and Madison islands, for threoe Presidents of the
Urvited States.
Andrews glacier, for Peealdent FH Andtows, Brown Dnlversity,
Garroll,glactor, for wx-Governor John, Lee Carroll, General President of
‘the Soriets of Sone of the Reyolution, Marylainl.,
‘Chamberlin (Mt), for Prof TC. Chemberlin, ex-Preshtent of the Uni
‘yiiesity af Wigoonsin.
Dabney hay, for Hom. Charles W. Daley, ex-Arsldtant Secretary of Agel
cultare, President of the University of Tenniesen,
Eaton paninenta, fer Gen. John Baton, ext! &
sioner of Kany
island, for Hom. George F, Falmunds, ex. 8 Senator.
Fege (ML), fur Hon. Willan P. Frye, 0.8, Senator.
Faller (Mt), fur: Hon, Melville W, Baller, Chief Justion uf thi Supreme
Court of the United States,
‘Garland pentosnis, tyr Hon, AW H, Garland, ex-Aitomey Gonoral'of the
United States.
{iilemnn peniamnia, for President (1. CL Gilman, Johny Hopking University.
Aarper strait, Soe Prosldent Willian R. Hazper, Cuivsesity. of Chien,
Harrie lay, for Hou. W, 1, Hiveris, U.S. Coimmlssloner of Ealuration. :
Hawley strait, for Hon. Joseph ER. Hawley, . 8. Senator.
Heatat glacier, dor Mex hoki A, Hearst,
Henderson imy, for Hon, J.B. Henderson, ex-t, S: Senator.
Hoyt tstanid, for Hon, dW. Hoyt, exGovernor of Wyoming, Chairman |
of the Nutlonal Uatrersity Conmaitior,
‘Hubbard bey, for Hon. Gantiner G: Hobburd, first President of thi Nae
tonal Geagraptile Society,
‘Hanton strait, for Hon. Eppa Hanton, #0. 8. Senator, THREE WEEKS IN HUBBARD BAY. ub
Joriian island, for Hesident D, &. Jordan, Stanford, University,
Kasson (Cape), for Hon. Johiy A, Kasson, ex-(%, & Minister to Anateti
and Germany.
Kyl beland, for Hon. James 1. Kyle, Ul. 8. Senator,
‘Langley (M1), for Hon. 8, P. Langley, Seermtasy of the Smifhwniin In-
stitutions
MeGre (Mt), for Prof, Wo) Meteo, Ethnologist'in Charge, Burean of
American Ethnology,
‘Sewoomb (Cape), for Hon-Simon Newoams, ex-Dreetor Nuntical Alimanae
Pepper (ML), for Oe Willlanl Eo Pepper, ex-Provoat of tho University of
Pentayivania; Proelitont af the Museum of Science and Arts, Phila:
delplia; Presitont of the Pan-American Mévtion) Congress.
Vowel (Mt). for Major J. W. Powell, Director of the Burean of Amor
loin Btlinbloge ; ex-Direetor of the ©, 8. Geologleal Surrey.
i tone Porter, U.S. Athaseador to Franor,
Troetorstnit, fF Hon, Reliteld Prootor, 1. 8 Senatur,
Tichanleon island, for Mie Ellon A, Richardson, President of the Geonge
Weshington Memorial Association,
Rhdpath Istamd, for te Johin Clark Rilpath, Editor of the Arena,
Sherman strait, foe Hon. John Shurmats, Secrotitry of State Pex, &:
Semler.
Smith puniumla, fr Col. Wilbur It Sentth, Konturky University.
Stray giucier, for Hop. Oar S, Strauss, ox-17. 8, Minister to Turkey.
Vilna (Mt). toe Hot, Willlatu P, Vilas, ex-Seervtary of the Interior; ex:
U, 8. Senator,
Walcott peninsula, for Hon @ 1, Waleptt, Director of the 1. 5. Gealig:
load Survey.
White island, fir Hon. Aiidrew D. White, 0. © Ambasmor to Geemuniy
ox-U, §. Minister to Ries.
Wilson strait, for Hon, William LL. Wilton, ex-Postamster General;
President of Washington and Leo University.
Wright (Lake), for Hon, Carroll D. Wright, U.S. Commipignerof Labor,
Keniies these, tho following nines. were deemed appropriate +
Mounts tiieling aud Kallstenias, for the two young Swadith explorwey
who Wore lout in an attatipt toronch Fllemere [and in tae Phe
Two ponks wer ascended by Ijtirling in 1871,
Mount. Ityder. far Lieut. Ryder, of the Danish Navy, the fire explorer of
Hubbard bay, The peak is tho highest that be sighted from ble
farthest north.
Mount Operti, for Me Albert Opertl, the “Arctic artied," who necomponied
Linat. Moary on two expeditions. A cairn urseted on the penk hy
Prof. Gillin 1806 was named ufter Mr Operti, The peak-was erro:
tieously culled Devil's Thumb by Redes, Tho real Devil's Thuaents ie
fv Alison’ bay,
Gill bay, for Prof. GUll, of the Carnell party of 1895, wha asconided Mount
‘Operti, overlooking this bay.
‘Tarr bay, for Prof, Tarr, the lender of the Cornell party: THE SAMOAN COCOANUT*
Samoa, the Navigators islands of the ld googaphica, ia
valranie group, consisting of four prineipal islands, Iving be-
tween 14° and 15° 8. latitude and 168° and 173° W. longitude.
Samoa hasan area of about 1,300 square miles, in size between
Rhode Island and Dolaware. Apia is the single port of entry.
Savuii, the most wouterly island, is much the largest, 45 miles
in length hy 25 in breadth. Upolu, 12 miles to the east, is 40
mallee in length by Thin breadth. Totuila, 88 miles east of Upolu,
is 17 mile in longth by 4 miles tn breadth,
» The ontire export from Sama for 184, excluding bondadgoads
and other re-exporty was $254,030; Of thia total copra (dried
CORORHUL ment) constitiited 8248570. The single exportable
staple fer which Samu is eminently adapteil, and the one upon
which all its business todyy-rests and niust forthe future bi
predicated, is the-covoannt (Corot nucifera). Tis to Samoa what
cotton and corn ate tothe United States; all that grain, meats, and.
woul ate to the Australesinn colonies. The export of the copra
(the drind meat of the cocoanut) alone, ave with trifling and in-
appreciable exception, repretents the eutire agricultiml product-
Ive chparity of Samoa, and through thissource every dollarthat
trutle ind commerce britig inte these islands finds tis way. Were
the cocoanut crop an absdbute failure for a sfugle voir, the entire
volume ofexport of this Kingdom for thal yar would not amount
to mory than $6,000, ‘Thisillustration will adequately rupreseiit
tho prime importance of this #ingle article to the country aud it
needs,
Like other primitive peoples depending largely on.a single re-
801 the native Samoans haves tradition or myth eoneorning
the origin ofthelr most useful plant—the cocoanut palm ;and the
myth is peculiarly interesting as fin illustration of the inounse-
quence of ideas in primitive tradition. This myth, with many
‘others, was collectid by Mr Willian Churchill, for some years
consnl-genoral 1) Sanioa, who has recently roturned to Washing
ton. To understand the myth it is necessary to remémber that the
* This aridide, eompited try de. A, We. arwoty te onmmpupeal tatty ef exourpEA Rew foe
\ttrresting arid vatriebiy ae port oo Snsian truce te th Prepuartimurnt Wt Stae ly Conilie
Genéral James TH. Mulligan, anit publiabod i Commuter Repuria, vol. 8h, bp THe. TRE SAMOAN (OCOANTT is
water yeasols used hy the Samoans consist of cocoanut shells in
pairs, connected hy cords in.such manneras easily to boosting
on astick Inid across the shoulders or conveniently carried in the
hand, the shells being emptiod of their original contents by the
simple and effective metho of knocking out the ° eyes," drink-
ing the milk, and then permitting ants to consume the meat.
One of the apertures produced by removing the “ eves" serves
asthe inouth of this natural jug, which Is remarkably light,
strong. nnd durable, aud has accordingly relievéd the Samoans
of the necessity of déveloping thaart of potterymaking. Al-
though so convenient in many ways this type of water vessel ix
not nasily filled, partioularly from a shallow stream. on spring ;
Init the Samoans have invented a neat devloe: by which this
difficulty is easily overcome. ‘The maiden who goes to the
spring carrey with her a cup mle from the stein end of a
cocoanut shell, with on# of the“ eyes” rameved, so as to trans
form it intos fannel, Thisshe dips in the water with her finger
over the aperture, then, holding ft over the neck of the covganut —
Fog. removes her ingor atid diroota the stroum into the earry-
ing vessel. ‘These wtensils—the pairof cocoanut jugs nnd
the conoanut, fimmel—have: well-established names inthe Sas
mony fongue, and these names apply to no other objects, while
the utensils are nover made of other muterinl than copannt
shell, Now, according to the. tradition, a village virgin of the
long age wont down to the spring for water, While dipping
with her cocoanut funnel and dirceting the streany inte the
eocuanut vessel she perceived a slutder, shadowy eel in the
water, andl Was so Ghtratioed by itt boauty that she deeded
to carry it home in the fiinnel cap’ and preserye It as n pet,
and this she proceeded todo. As timé pasted the crenture
grew, and it ‘bocame nevessary to remove it te larger atid
larger receptacles, until finally it became a terrific monster,
threatening todestroy the people, So the people gathered, and,
under protense. nf placating the monster, supplied it eo freely
with « Samuan beverage that it became intoxicated and. slept,
Then they cut off the monster's head, and, to jirevent reclaim:
tion of this-usefdl organ when the creature should awaken, re-
moved It to a distitier and buried it deeply in the earth, Their
virtue waa duly rewarded when, some time later, the earth swelled
and opened, arida strange plant pushed oul, deli¢ate in form and
graceful in movement asthe eel in ite infiney. And thix inag-
ice) plant was the finst coconut tree, ry THE SAMOAN COCOANUT
Trwis the eousanut and cotton —chiefly the former—whieh
indoced a large purchase of lands ty aw Corman firm and the
planting of some extensive plantations. ‘Twenty to thirty years
go, when the oil of the coconwnt began to be more Inrgely ex
pluyed inthe manufacture ofsanps,copma commanded in Eumpe,
where it found itv only, and stil] duds ite prinelpal, market, very
rennimerstive prices, which in thee times of decretesd values in
everything are looked back tons phenomenal These high prives
stimulated the planting of these thowends of acres of tossing
poling whieh reach on hofore the even unmatched beaity, But
the kame stimulns Which tidied thik manifestation of enter-
ptiso wae (elt on every trapio seashore. “Millions of troes wore
plinted on the measuroless shores of tropic Afriva, America, and
Asia. All the shores of India, of the contiguous countries, of
the unnumbered island that form the archipelagoes of the vast
western Pacilic, were transformed into stately grovezin the keen
search for lange profite,
‘These groves ate hata few yours past their darly maturity.
Every year, with favorable seanon, they vield ap incrensing crop,
The wrudl reaction has followed. The sanie restlt in thee hutter
times of Increased output in everything has been redehed, vid
overprodtiction ia steadily bouring prices downward. To aditition
dame the intradnetion of eotton-soal wean oil-producer. This
tolls apon Samoa in more than adireet way, No plantativns
are being laid ont, What has been said before in regard toother
productions and the great distaneos of the markets oneither sido
isapplicahlete the situation of Ramon with reference to its single
staple in redoubled force. Distance, t repeat, ia kynonymous
with freight rates, Other copmmaking countries are situated.
nearertothe markets, A lower freight means a lower oort to the
parehaser, Agnit), astiall aril somi-civitized population, indulg-
ing fow artificial needs, offers nemall market for import goods ;
conxequvntly ships t6 larger countries bin carry a oarge out, to
retin with acne ofeapny, Vesels cannot, sive itexceptional,
rato esses, find a charter fo Samea, As a result, the Samoan.
shipperiof copra must pay the high mite of steamers regularly
ealling or pay such m price for transporintion gs will justify a
sailing vessel to come, perhaps partially in ballast, to carry away,
a cange of cop,
Tn this respect the German firm enjoys na advauthge, as it
dots i, many other things, for, doing for the country a rather
Jarye business ind supplying the German men-of-War with onl, THE SAMOAN COOOANTT iB
it can condjust it shipments a4 to offer a vessel a tharter bath
Ways, to the great reduction of freight chiunses. Tt folloves that
these ativantages of the larger concern tend greatly to continue
ina meastire the monopoly it once conspicuously enjoyed, ta
the disadvantage of smaller shippers.
Copra is situple the meat of the eoconnnt, dried in theaun,
generally by belts sprend on mats, until the greater part of the
watery juice iz evapirated, For this purpose the nut is Jett to.
thorouphly tipen—that fs, until the white flesh, or kernel, which
Tines the inside of thi sholdto the thickness of threefourths of
amineh or more, reaches that degree of hardiess found in-cocon-
nuts soli] ab the fruit stands in the United States. At thie’ sinte
all the clear, palutahly water-which completely filled the interior
in the green stage is nheorberd.
When a commercin! demand for cocoanut oil first «prang up,
atid shipments were small, it was customary to ¢hip the pure ail
ii Gasks, feenofthe wood or fibrous residuum, [twas then hought
by the-traders direct as oil from the untives; whosecured a BppA=
ration of the oll Ly allowing the green copra to stand ¢x;
to tho kun if canoes—troughs, 48 it were—until the heat arid
decay aut the oii free to collect at the bottom, to he afterwards
atrainod,
Novoil/has hewnso shipped fora yrent many years, und the
one mill Ket up for extracting the oil mechanically was not a
profitable venture. Cooperage could nat be had here, and the
iniportation of cake was found too expensive. Thon the loak-
age ina long voyage in woodtn packages was found to be-vory
great, ‘Formany years the oil cake obtained from. cooonnute
* notin Heady demand from datryimen and «mall finnersin Encope
fis-4 food fur cattle, but Intterly it has fallen inte disiayur, the
opinion obtaining that it is productive of derangement, if not of
disease. The decline of thiv tise histo same extent iflueted the
price of copm. It was formerly estimated that the ale of the
ail cake paid the.cost of the froight on the bulk copra.
Marseilles ie the principal manufacturing: polit of ooeoanut
Gil, but large quantities are shipped to Liverpodl, to ports on
the Bultic, andl to San Francisoo, ‘The oil is maed to some ex-
tent by admixture asa lubricant, but its chief use is found in
the manufheture of commou and matiom sraile sump. Ths ten-
dutiey to become raticid—an: objection whieh has not been ene
tirely: overdotie—is a serious bindmnce to ite employment in
mnny things, and precludes its use ii the tanulfacture-of the Ww THE SAMOAN COCOANUT
hotter grades of soup, for, free of odor as it may be at first, ite
pungent rancidity is apt to become soon manifest. ‘The odor of
copra, especially when stored in bulk or on shipbount ie of the
most disagreeable xud nauseating ehancter,
"Phe accepted method of latter years is to plant the eocoanuts
in rows 40 feet apart, setting the trees 20 feet in the raw. The:
carly planters placed the trees 20 foet apart each way, and manny
Years were required after they oame into benring to-show that
the planting had been done too closely, ‘The nuts were small
fund notsonbantlant ss they were on dries scattered widely apart.
Taught by this obsorvation, the groves were thinned by ettting
sway «liberal percentage of the trees, to the considemble im=
provement of the yield. The cocoanut, of all things, faves the
sunshine and free crenlation of the wir, Indeed, to fourish in
porinction it should stand on the omter-verge of the shorw, its
roots striking into the pea water, its beauohes or palms oer
whippod and tossing in the stil’ breeze of the trades. Tt finda
its habitat close to the sea, where the salt-impregnated air cnn
teach itfreely arid it abundance. Like same other members of
the vegetable kingdom—for instance, clover—it seeme to inke w
part of the eloments of ite growth from the air, but that pir must
be at the high temperature of the tropics and saturated with the
salt moisture of the-sea. The cocoanut is sq much the creature
cof the sunshitie anil the sea that it clearly manifests its removal
inland ina reduced crop of smaller nuts. ‘The lowlands af the
beach on all these islinds are more or less covered with the
groves, while on the mountains and highlands no tree is found,
‘The maller size of the trees and the poorer yield are plainly to
be noticed of Jatids' at an olevation’ of fram 400 te. O00 feet, situ-
wed at asx short a distance as 2) and $aniles from the shores
Standing immediately on the beach, the tree inclines outward
over the water; growing inland, it points by its leaning ever in
the most direct way to the sea,
‘The nutezipon along throughout the year, hanging in pendent
clusters close in-and aromnd the stems of the palm branohes,
which spread about on allisidey and reach upward from the
clustered head forming thé top of the tree, The mute hameing
lowest ripen first, the young nut continually appearing dbove
with the wrowth of the tree. and so the lower branches wither
and dry, falling away as the younger brutches push'out from
above. ‘The body of the tres from: the ground to the crown at
the top, a distance reaching up from 20 fo most frequently 60 ’ ‘THE SAMOAN COCOANDY Ww
and evan 80 fect, Ie-ermooth and bare like a mere pole support-
ing at head of nuts and sweeping branches,
‘The trees come into bearing, in 4 sinall way.at the sixth year
on suitable soll, and pce heligved fo reach the fall tinsit of ros
ductive at from 1410 20 yours of age. Many groves known to
be 80 and 40 years of age ore now bearing iy undiminished
abttiuliinee, and they so continue to do te a great age. Porsona
who profess to hoabléeto dutermine the age of trea by the marks
loft on the bari¢whore the branches hye successively fallon osti-
mate in this way that many:still vigorous trees are 70) and §0
yearsof age Natives who are peculiarly intelligent in so many:
Ware, but who appear te be, for reasons not. difficult to under
stand, peculinely unable te koap aesuunt ef time, say that the
cocoanut trye will live on beyond hundted years, In all prob.
ability they Jive to a considurably greator age on the buncbs
land# when the trunk his eseajiod serious injury.
Springs. whild frequently met with, atv tot ebundant, and for
fresh water for all purposes elidnee is had on the sninl] streams
coming down (for the mountains. With few exceptions, the
Ratives are not praction! or providerit onough to provide tanks
for the stomge of min water, as is univens)-among-the whites +
indend, the formation and material of the mofs-of native houses
would makeit very difficult te catch rain water from auch roofs,
As villages wre often at considerable (istgneys from natural sup.
Plies of fresh water, and aw thee in the ley months of May, June,
and July often Betome exhausted, recourus ik had toa very
burbarotis method of suipplemontiing the supply of fresh water.
Cocoumnt trees néarly ubways incline at ii aiele more oF les
oblique. On what may be termed tha tipper side of the tres, or
that opposite to the direstion in which it inclines, lafye cup-
shaped notches, similar t thom made in the loug-leaved pine
for turpentine purposes,are out, With every shower the water
trickles down thu body of the trea; being canght in these troughs
or notches, {t serees to fill the coomanut drinking shells. or bottles,
the oly vesshls for holding water they cumploy ; foryexcept ina.
fow instances, they ure slow t6 adopt buckets or other containing
vessel common fis divilizod Life,
The covownut trea ia capable of surviving a gent deal of in-
jury jin fxet, it maintains ite vigor despite suoli injuries as would
- Tuinons to most tren of the tempemte climes: Trees are
often seen flourishing in undiminished vigor, althoush totdhed
half through jn the way decribed jn twoand even three plnets,
: 18.
THE SANOAN QKOCHANUT
While these unpardonable injurios sire wusthinod without aye
parent detriment fora tong time, they bring nbout theeertait:
result when the tees hooames-old ‘The surface of the eat be
comes derayed, and thie, once set in, progresses on inte the
troe nit itean ne longer sustain }te weight or withstand the
igh winds ofthe storiny scasnil. All trees are by no means
