Humberside Collegiate Institute - Hermes Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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4 S I ti -- Q - T H E E M Ef A M bl D S emom e JW 5 X Pu 3 . 1, ' HIS memorable day was Atter our noon meal we walk to the 3 Q CQ spent in the Cen- push-car tracks, and -here begins the 1: 5 ,gif tral mountains ot most enjoyable part of our trip. Here E, For mosa, Japan. we see push cars lined up ready to G L 1 where live the savage tribes of that island. Q The first stage ot our trip is taken in rickshaws. Then we travel in a small train, passing sugar cane and rice fields. Gradually the country rises in terraces, till we arrive at a small station in the foothills. Out of courtesy two Japanese police- men accompany us from here on and act as guides. A few minutes' walk brings us to the Japanese Inn. It is a square, frame building with a thatched root and a narrow verandah on all sides. There are three main rooms. Their floors are covered with finely woven grass mattresses, approximately two inches thick, called tatami. These rooms are seemingly empty, and have sliding doors on three sides.. The other sides are given over to large cupboards with sliding doors. We shall later learn of their use. The three rooms are easily made into one large room by sliding back the par- titions. Before stepping up on to the raised floors, we take off our shoes. A polite little -Iapanese maid, dressed in a dainty kimono comes to wait on us, and greets us with a low, gracious bow. First she goes to the cupboards and pulls out large, rather flat, square cushions for us to sit on. Then she brings in some small low tables not a foot high. She serves us with little cups of hot tea which is very refresh- ing. 'ii start, a coolie by each one. The push- car runs on narrow tracks, the rails being two feet apart. They are low, tlat cars with a post at each corner and an upturned box in the middle. Two people can sit on this box quite comfortably. VVide pith hats are necessary to protect one from the tropical sun, so when everyone is seated and umbrellas are hoisted the coolies commence pushing the cars. VVhen we are travelling at a fair speed they stand on the back. holding on to a post and pushing with one foot. Shooting down valleys is one of the most exciting rides I know, very much like the roller-boller coaster at an exhibi- tion. But going uphill pays for the fun of coasting, for it is very slow, and sometimes we have to get out and walk to the top. Magnificent scenery surrounds us all the way. Qver there is a deep gorge, where rushes a river full of falls and rapids. Along its banks grow tall ferns of all tropical varieties. Farther up grow beautiful trees and shrubs of vivid green shades. On all sides tower the high peaks. Some are covered with tall, waving grass several feet high, in the shape of domes. Others are bare, from landslides, except for short grass in some places. Some mountains are deeply hollowed, suggesting extinct volcanoes. Every- where is the dense, rich growth of plants. Sometimes when we look below we see little clearings with 108

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ii i i i is i f.7a?5f?! XXX rf-ie Hammer rehnery. Twice a week the visitors are allowed by special permission to see the gold go through the Howing process caused by heating. It Hows as a red hot liquid into iron pans, and when it has cooled, emerges as a solid block. In the stamper,' the Hol- linger seal is pressed upon it and the gold is ready for shipment to almost any part of the world. The Hollinger has extended her search for mineral wealth into the newly-prospected lands of Kami- scotia, some twenty miles northwest of Timmins, and holds high hopes of discovering a rich vein in this area. With all this important work going on in the Hollinger, the mining region is not devoid of beauty spots. Whethei' you drive in from Timmins or arrive by train from North Bay, you will not fail to see the beautiful coloured which marks the main entrance to the mine. ln the centre of a circular garden a well-polished but exceedingly old piece of machinery stands in solitary glory. It is the iirst stamper ever used in the Hollinger. The tennis courts are situated farther along a circling road which leads to the beautiful homes of Alexander Brigham, general manager, and of John Knox, assistant manager, of the Hollinger. Many men are kept happy by employinentg the mine brings in countless riches to the Dominion annuallyg and the officials expect that for the next iifteen or twenty years the Hollinger will continue to produce the equivalent to the one hundred and forty millions in gold which she has brought to Canada in the past. fountain in front of the ofhce building, -M. Tilly, II-C. s 'Q X17 1 ,. Q if l I .Au X ,X , dl 2 k T X f T - g H Z -- 2f'X F -K 107 X NX

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Y T7 Twig I-lll.1I'-2lVIQf', - - 1679 NNN patches of brown, indicating thatched roofs and small patches of millet and sweet potatoes. Here and there, long suspension bridges swing across gaping gullies. In this territory live the subdued savages who have been taught to farm on a small scale under japanese in- struction. Four hours' ride brings us to our destination, Mt. Kapanzan. We reach the village about five o'clock. The savages rush out to greet us, overcome with curiosity at our strange appear- ance. We stare at them and they stare at us. The dress of the savages is very interesting. All their clothing is woven from hemp on small hand- looms, and brilliantly coloured. Some wear large, square pieces of cloth caught at two corners over one shoulder. Some of the women wear long trousers and long top tunics. The men, warriors and hunters, wear short, open tunics and girdles that hold their swords. The children wear little clothing, and some none at all. All are adorned with many kinds of bracelets, anklets and necklaces made out of beads, teeth, seeds, bone and shells. The head-dress of the women consists of a long strip of cloth wound round the head like a turban. The men wear woven skull-caps made from rattan, or a band holding :some bright coloured feathers. One prominent feature of their headgear is enormous ear-rings. They are not really ear- rings at all, but bamboo sticks as thick as one's finger, and about five inches long, with tufts of brightly coloured wool in each end. The faces of all the men and women are tattooed with the tribal marks. Some have marks on the forehead and chin, others have fan-like patterns on their cheeks. We visit various huts, one owned by the savage chief. It is a thatched dwelling, and we step down on enter- ing, as the floor is below the level of the ground. The inside is dark and gloomy. It gives us a creepy feeling to look at the skulls ranged on shelves. The only furniture within is bamboo frames spread with mats for beds, and earthen pots and jars. Hanging around the walls are weapons of hunters and warriors. The fire is built in the middle of the room on the mud floor. There are neither stoves nor chimneys, so the smoke finds its way out as best it can, through a hole in the roof. The food is cooked in pots hung on poles over the fire. These tribes live on millet, fish from the mountain streams, and wild game, such as deer, wild boar, and various kinds of birds. Very hungry and pleasantly tired we return to the Inn for our evening meal. And now to bed on the floor! Again the maid makes use of the cupboards by pulling out mattresses and quilts which are spread on the floor. Again she pulls out something, this time a.huge mosquito net, stretch- ing to the four corners of the room. If this net were omitted we would not be able to sleep all night, because of the buzzing, biting, tormenting insects. Thus closed a never-to-be-forgotten day. We had seen some of the rarest people on earth in their native, primitive surroundings. -Kattlzerine MatCLe0d, I-A. 109