Sketches from Formosa.

248
They soon became quite
SKETCHES FROM FORMOSA
accustomed to their new sur-
roundings, and showed a very fair amount of diligence
and receptivity. It should also be noted here that the
Government Schools for aborigines like the A-mi-a and
other tribes in East Formosa which have surrendered to
the Authorities, are carried on with an encouraging
degree of success.
As to the boys in those scattered little mountain
hamlets, their out-door life and plain nourishing diet
cause them to develop into fine promising lads. The
two pastimes they become most expert at are wrestling
and practising the art of head-hunting. For the latter,
a company of five or six is required. Two or three of
these provide themselves with sticks to serve as ploughs
or little hoes, and pretend to be Chinamen out working
in their fields ; while the others keep lurking behind
trees and bushes, till they make a blood-curdling yell,
and dash out for the much-coveted trophy. Should
those attacked be able to knock down their assailants,
or escape by making a clean pair of heels, then the sides
are changed next time ; with the result that,
if the
attacking party comes out victorious, they triumphantly
thrust some big round calabash resembling a human
skull into their head-bags, and proceedings conclude
with riotous fun and general jubilation.
The chief features of those who make up the civilized
tribes of Formosa (the Sek-hwan and the Pi-po-hwan)
are the narrowness of their lives in being poor crofters
or hired cultivators of the soil, their illiteracy, and the
laxity of their customs as regards marriage and divorce.
This being so, it is evident that we cannot have much to
say about their women and their children. No doubt
cases do occur where families live together in unity, and
with some measure of comfort, from their own point of
view ; but very much more is needed to make them