Intellectual Standing of the New Hebridean by C. H. Parker

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1913

Intellectual Standing of the New Hebridean

By C. H. Parker

C. H. PARKER

WHAT is written of the New Hebridean can doubtless be said of many of the other island races. They are all children of nature, and their education is obtained by coming in contact with nature instead of books. Their powers of observation are largely drawn on, and it is wonderful what fine distinctions

they are able to make. Mr. Geddie says, “I dare say, as Britons, we consider ourselves the most intellectual people on earth, but a South Sea islander will often smile at our stupidity about many things, in which we are evidently inferior to them. It should be borne in mind that the Most High ‘hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.’ The condition of these islanders has been unfavorable to the development of their mental energy. Nevertheless, there are indications of a fair amount of intellectual power among them. They have mythology, which though absurd and false, is at least ingenious. They have their historical traditions, which are transmitted from generation to generation. They can express their thoughts in a humorous manner, and often in figures of speech, forcible and appropriate. Their language, too, is copious. Many speak two or more languages.”

“On all the islands the language is found exceedingly rich in all that pertains to the needs and habits of a people situated as they are, but poor in what pertains to civilized and religious life. It has since on trial been found that they can be taught rapidly to read, write, and cipher, and that they readily learn to repeat passages of Scripture.”

“We may add that, like most rude tribes, they show that cultivation of the powers of observation which renders them in their own sphere so superior to civilized men. They recognize every footprint they see, and of every pig or fowl they can name the owner.”

The writer has been with natives of Fiji, hidden away in the bush, when one of our number would call out: “Sa yadra, Tomasi; sa laki evei?” (Good morning, Thomas, where are you going?) The answer invariably would come back, naming the individual who had spoken, and telling where he was going. It was astonishing to me, and I would ask how they knew that some one was going along the path, and how they knew who it was? They would tell me that they could tell by the sound of his footstep. I had heard no footstep, but their keen hearing had detected it, and recognized whose footstep it was.

Mr. Geddie further says: “They have also much quickness in the government of character, in reading the countenances, and penetrating the motives of others.”

“They can not be said to have a history, and scarcely any antiquities are to be found on the islands. There is on Aneityum a very large stone, on which are engraved representations of men, fishes, and the heavenly bodies, which the natives regard as the work of superhuman agents. On Efate there is a dome-shaped cave, round the sides of which are marks supposed to be inscriptions. These, like some remains found on some other Pacific islands, may indicate either that the present races have degenerated or that the islands were previously occupied by people more advanced in art.”