Beauty: Fascinating History The China Society of Science and Arte met yesterday at 5.80 p.m. at the lecture hall of the Royal Asiatic Society,.5 Museum Road, at Which time Mr. J. A, Jackaon delivered a lecture on "Formosa", illustrated with many beautiful lantern slides of photographs taken by. him while on a walking tour of tthe island last summer.
The following notes on "Formosa" will: give come idea of the many interesting facts included in Mr. Jackson's lecture.
The island of Taiwan (Formosa) was occupied several centuries before the Christian era by a race known ax the Longkius, and during the sixth century A. D. these people were overcome by Malays from the south who settled there in large numbers, It is the descendents of these people who are now known the aborigines or "head hunters. Up to the 17th century the island was without government or history and was practically a no-man's Jand. All that is known about. it that it was the base from which Japanese and Chinese ed the shipping in the Conflict: of Dutch and Spaniard:
Upon discovery of the Far Eat by Western nations the Dutch and Spaniards formed their settlements here, ani erected strongly" built stone forts which exist at the present day in the ports along the west in 1642 the Dutch attacked poniards and drove them out and, and for a few veal the: Dutch practically governed the island-alone, At the close of the Ming Dynasty when the Manches fnvated south China they were opposed by a Chinese general Kexinga who upon being retreated to Taiwa comed by the natives, and attacking the Dutch "drove them from. the island. "He was then. practicely King of Taiwan for about 20 years. During his reign there was a large emigration of" Chinese from the Fakion. province who settled along the west coast and cultivated the soil there, In 1682 the island was taken over as a part of the Chinese Empire and so remained up to 1805 when it was ceded to Japan.
In the western plai Grove the aborigines tains, and thus began a. bit struggle between the: two races. There was continual warfare, and this is no daube where the aborigines: got their reputation as. "head hunters", as they killed the Chine whenever they had the chance, The Aboriginal Tribes These aborigines are a very me teresting people. They are divided {nto seven tribes and-in 1928 numered altogether 84,177. The seven tribes: are known as Taiyal, Bunun, Paiwan, Ami, Yami, and Tsuou. Dut the first three were the most warlike and. they gained the reputation of being "head hunters", The remaining four tribes are quite! docile: and peaceful. Among these people there grew up the idea that the possession of a human skull was roof of bravery, and the girls willing to marry a young man who had distinguistied himecit in this way. Mr. Jackson was assured, Dowever, that this practice no long-cer exists, and the girls now marry without this qualifeation, What has brought about this huge change? It is due entirely to the policy of the Japanese Government. At the beginning their administration was purely military, fand there was continual warfare with the aborigines. In 1909, however, the Japanese decided upon a obey, and footpaths " were the mountains and right across the island, and along these police stations were erected at in-{ervals of a few miles. These paths were patrolled daily by the soldiers and by these means the aborigines were brought under control. By_ the fierce "head hunters" had all submitted, and then began another policy to make them order ly Japanese subjects. Schools were erected and Japanese teachers. supplied free of cost. In 1923 there were 169 schools for these abo ines,, with a total attendance of 4,015 children. They are all learn-jing Japanese and within. snather
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.