Developement Measures
Having successfully carried through the so-called five years’ savage control programme by March, 1915, the Government was now able to concentrate upon the improvement of the savages.
In 1916, some of the Musha tribes in Taichu Province, who had been subjugated by that time, and some of the level plain tribes in Taito and Karenko Prefecture were taught and encouraged to grow rice and China grass.
Thus in that year about 3 ko (about 8 acres) of paddy fields and about 10 ko (about 2½ acres) of ordinary fields were brought under cultivation.
These farms, with 38 schools comprising only 456 of the aboriginal children, and 34 medical offices, were the small beginnings uplifting our uncivilized brothers.
The tribes having been generally quiet up to 1918, considerable progress was made in the work of development, but as agitation roused by the punitive expeditions was not entirely tranquillized, reckless savages occasionally rose in revolt, and set back the work initiated for their own welfare.
Never discouraged, however, the authorities applied themselves to their work with redoubled efforts, gradually succeeding in bringing the people to the realization of their condition.
Consequently economic ideas slowly began to dawn upon the primitive people, who were first induced to learn to cultivate fixed pieces of land or to get their living by some definite labour. As a result of this their postal savings, which were ¥52,479 in June, 1921, came up to ¥107,970 in June, 1923.
Encouraged by this, the Government assiduously endeavoured to help them to be independent and self–supporting people. For this purpose, such works as were considered most suitable for them during the transition period were chosen for their employment.
It is a pity, however, that these developement measures have been taken only for comparatively advanced tribes inhabiting frontier regions, and many in the deeper mountains have had to be left alone. So the authorities are now planning to extend their work to those remote tribes, availing themselves of the present tranquillity.
Education, barter, medical treatment, provision of occupation and conducting tours are the principal methods employed to develope the aborigines.
