The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-05-04 00:00:00

A SAVAGE BSAUTV.

It wee on one of the mat laden riven that I made
the experi.nce you are about to hear. 'Dore an mamma,
which I must not disregard, for preserving this vague-
ness as to the locality. Bet I would assure the reader,
with cal lierienelle•• that my story is true, and its moral
sound.
Pictare to yourself a solitary mecca Iyieg moored in
the mid-water of • great tropic river...... The night fell
suddenly down, dark and windy I listened to the
gorging of the tide, sad its Malady "lap" against the
gunwale, and I thought of times and laths In plessent
Europe with a sort of despair. -
Soddenly my meditation was broken by • pealing
"Ho—o !" from the mid-darkness. y boatswain
answered the uaseen challenger, and held a short eon-
yersatioo with him in the disleet of the interior; thee,
addressing me, thus anemia:tied visitors : "The brave
chief Irmo the nest reach, my lord, desires to present
his slavish worship." " Tell the brave thief of tbe next
reach," I answered, 'that his slave, end all his slave's
ane. skin in their coffin; rejoice at this happy meetiag.
And pass • candle aft, if there's One leit in the locker
There wag one left in the looker, which I stuck
into a bottle and fined to the gunwale. In soother
moment a tall, mitemlar old men emerged from the
darkness, rested his band lightly on the gunwale
of my boat, and stepped in, with no more cum.
motion than, caused by walking aboard a three-decker.
The brave chief of the cent reach," observed my boat-
swain ceremonioway, and I speeted the worthy old man ,
with a smile and a shake of the hand. He sat down at ,
the farther side of the boat, sileutly, but with great
and visible contentment. I prepared to eased him with
aerials statintiad questioos, such as, I amen you, these
savages are neither perplexed to beer, nor unable to
answer. "How many fightiog men blow your
was about to Lek, when another hand was placed upon
the sun weds—another figen came up suddeoly from the
dark river, and stept with ease upon my rickety craft.
"The wifo of the brave chief who lives on the meet
reach," announced the boatswain, who set crouched
beneath the kajonp. I smiled and shook hands. The
wife took • piece 'beside her husband with • familiar
confidence pleasant to see. "How many fighting—"
I wee interrupted again! y left hand rested on the
gunwale, instinctively placed there when the "brave
chiefs wife" boarded me, to count rest any ugly lurch
which her nothilfulnim might cause. On this band
was suddenly placed smother, belotigine evidently to a
pereon outside icy boat. So small and slender were
those lingers that thee clasped mine, so soft and dainty
and delicate,— all the blood in my body tingled; for I
thought, surely 'tis the hand of • nic maid !—• Lorley
But .o! A third visitor rose from the darknewa—rose,
resting its hand still on mine,—rose and stood upright
before me, framed in the velvety blackness of the night.
It was the figure of • young eel, sixteen years of age
at moat, which thus stool up suddenly before me,
sparkling, shining it the modle-light, lebe was simply
Clad in • short petticoat of woollen stuff, which did not
quite reach the knee. Her arms and wrists were en.
waled with many bracelets of gold and shell, and
ornament' of bras,; it was a crime ao,to overload them.
for their shape was worthy of Hobe. Hound and round
her slender waist • chain of small gold rattle. was
twisted, which tiukled faintly with each motion. Her
'easeful head had ea covering, except snob coils of fine
black hair as three Foglish women might with joy have
shared amongst themselves. The hair was not parted
but drawn back from tbe forehead, and tied in • smooth
knot, with • quantity of muesli scented flowers; the
ends bill in • shower behind, almost to her
waist. This fashion,whieh civilised ladies are
just adopting, is the common coders of the
land I speak of. The girl's batting were
perfect, from low, round forehead to dimpled chin!
And wholly European in character, save that no eyes of
our wool:could laugh with such velvc.t softness, nor plead
with humility so irresietible. For this young savage'.
face alone down upon me with dewy lips parted in a
timid smile, and incocent, saucy eyes, that said pleinly
as words: "Am I not pretty? You are • great
and almost more than man, but you cannot refuse me •
pliift in your canoe !" lied all the while she kept her
little soil a heed in mine, while I stared dimly upwards,
marvelling at her loveliness.—" The daughter of the
brave chief who lives on the next relish r' gravely
amiouncied any boatswain from under the kejongs. "The
daughter of tbo breve chief who lives on the next reach
Is welcome to her slave's resting place !" I said, with
an affeetation of mighty indifference. Bat the attempt
failed, I suspect, for in, boatmen forward, who had,
like all their race, steno Italian interest in the minutest
affair de roue laughing gently as they sat beside their
lire, and stole • glance aft. But the little beauty was
too profoondly conscious of her own value, personal
and political, to core one straw for the impertinence of
mere boatmen. the murmured • few words, in
• voles sweet as the lips from which it issued,
and received a merry answer from her father. Then
she looked down at me with a joyous smile, and, pat-
ting her loot on the gunwale, stepped on board
She dad not speak ten word, all night, but sat under the
shadow. of the kajoega, and slyly watched me; smiling
from time to time with such girlish rase as made my
very heart stir. Now and thee she laughed at some
unintelligible witticism of her brave old father; a sweet,
happy Leech that did one's ean good to hear. In fact,
I fell in love that night, and I know that it we had not
met again, I should have returned to civilised life a
victim henceforth to Byronic melancholy; feeling •
desperate conviction that the only being I Mild beef
love dwelt some fifteen thousand miles off as
the crow dim, in a pathethatetied house beside
an uukootien river. But I net her again It was
Deebnpo • month after the visit to nay canoe.
I was descending the stream, and had reached • point
some 6lty miles about the dwelling of my savage beauty.
The day was at Its hottest, but for ten minutes we had
been colleCiotte Of an unnatural noise, which swelled
through the forest like the !mimeo, men cheering,
laughing, singing :—in fact, like the roar of s multitude.
We were prepared for any event, when the canoe,
suddenly shooting round • point, came in view of • very
large native house, evidently crammed with people,
all evidently drunk. "This is a great feast, my lord,"
exclaimed my servant. It may have been. Most
certainly it was the noisiest gathering I ever assisted at.
"Keep to the other side the river, and slip past, if
possible," I ordered. But to escape was hopeless. The
men of the festive party were, indeed, far too drunk to
feel sure of their vision at the distance, but a troop of
girls stood by the river-side, laughing, comparing note.,
overlooking their coiffure, and criticising their friends'
costume, jest as do civilised belles in like ease ; save
that these simple children of the forest had no mirror
but the limpid stream, nor any dress to speak of, inapt
Bowen and beads. No hope of eluding those bright
*yea! But unless some well-known warrior were sum-
moned to their aid from the house, I had little fear the
girls would due to addrees • white man. " Spin along r
I cried, and we flew pest.
But the attempt proved vain I A slender, silvery
voice called aloud across the water by the name them
garages had given me. Discovered, I had to submit,
and unwilling gave the word to pull ashore. The girls
eciatiered as we drew in, some running away in real or
effected panic, some laughieg hysterically at • distance.
But the greater number rushed together, and stood in
• compare body, holding each other tight. " Who called
me r I asked gaily, approaching the phalanx. Direful
confusion and dismay resulted. After somewhat of •
struggle in the mid recess of the crowd, • slender girl
was silently thrashed out, while the others looked at
me with speechless anguish. The victim thus abandoned,
held her hands before her face, and all her graceful
frame, scarcely concealed by clothing. trembled, no that
I could bear the rattling of her innumerable golden
ornaments but whether her emotion was of fear or
Mirth I could not tell. In either roes the situation

might well embarrass a shy man like me. Not knowing
what to do with this slender child. and profoundly dis-
comforted by a there of dilated eyes fixed on me from
the one side, while on the other I could bear my boot-
von Mashing to themselves, I boldly seised her in lay !
arms, and pulled apart her hands. It was the heroine
of my fancy I she looked up at me with eyes inimfal
of terror,— whether 'online, or &teamed as a likely
weapon by the little dirt, I have no idea. Do not
think that the white ram lath a moDoply of brie; there
are few trieki in social optics which flindooe, Malays,
and Disgorgers not thoroughly alive to. •
While considering what I should any or do, the damsel
broke Irma me, and ran it topmost speed towards the
hones, screaming with laughter. At this simple, all
the young girls dismissed thair terrified expression, and
loudly joined the outburst. I stood,—it is not to be
denled.—in thine confasion, feeling indeed, out to the
heart, as moth by the indeliethy of this action as by
the proof it gave that no favourable impression
had bee, mule on my adored one's fancy. This per-
turbation of mind was not relieved by the frankness of
my sewing, who observed, with the anilines' befitting
an undeniable statement of facts, "The girls make a
fool of your lordship r I turned to regain my canoe,
and hurry from this scene, but a dozen potent chief.,
with their golidfringed headthaedkerchiefs all awry,
their necklines wrong, side before. and their dress in an
indescriosiWe confusion, came to entreat my presethe at
the feast. To refuse was impossible. I followed
them into the house.
All intelligent creatures drink, and moth of them get
drank from time to time. High reason, true moi tality, the
best medical opinions, end the ea perienoe of every MAO, in
vain oombine to disoourege the practice. Daily are we
told that the custom is extinct, never to come to life
again in civilised communities. Daily we real much
athertiorui, and no man dreams of contridicting them,
because everyone knows the truth too well. People
drank in all sans, to excess from time to time, and they
will °outline so to do till the If illenniom.

But if any sight on thu round earth could cause the
British Parliament to pass Sir Wlf red Lawson's Bill,
end could penuadetbe English people to accept it—that
eight was before me when I entered the house. Of this
we will say no more, In charity to my savage but
generous boats.
You will have observed the young lady's shockir.g
rudeness to me et the wateraide. Nothing creates in
my mind a more abrupt revaltinn than hoydenish
conduct If the Venus de Medici in flesh laughed lead,
or maliciously, or in the wrong place, I should flee from
her. I cite the Medioe•n Venus, because, Ire.king
critically at that young permits, I could believe her t
be not too well bred. Pansy Milo's goddess mistaking
her "monde l" It coat me • severe mental struggle to
a twit eaeusee for this very doubtful conduct of my
Hobe. To laugh loud; to Laugh loud and run away; to
laugh loud and run away from me—showed excessively
bad taste. Bile I wes overcome in meeting her at the
threshold. Such soft penitence was expressed in her
ewinitniog eyes, such graceful motinerie about her
mouth ias though to soy " Please forgive ;if you
won't I know how to avenge myself !" I longed to
clomp her in my arms again, and vowed that she should
not escape so easily next time. I walked op the lone
verandah of the house, escorted by her father, and
numerous chiefs, as distinguished, I was told, as I saw
mey were drunk. They set in. in the plain of honour,
where the reek was strongest, and the sun most tearful.
Half-a-dozen of the leading men held lie upright with
touching care, and I, so far aa my limited supply of
members went, reciprocat-d the service. There were
two brawny fellows who aupported me under the arms.
B ,th of them I held up by hand. There was another
ye!orous warrior who insisted theta prop was needed for
•n• b.ek, and nearly pushed me down. fees foremost in
tut endeavour to !means -himself. Putting my legs inert
and leaning forward, I supported him also. "Row long
is this to last?' tasked the serene, who was treated in
much similar manner by werriore of less nota "They're
going to perform some tomfoolery," replied the
Mueulman sullenly, for their idolatrous rites entailed
upon his orthodox oonethene an infinite amount of
supererogatory prayer. Meanwhile, my tawny b. Ile bad
taken • place opposite to mine, end there stood, watching
me with great eyes.
• I won't tell whet the ceremony was. Drinking was
its commencement, singing ,its mid oourse, and getting
drunk its logical conclusion. Among other absurdities,
etiquette required that • large bowl of liquor should be
placed on my head. I insisted that this vessel should
be empty. The dispute grew respectfully hot ; but it
was at length terminated by the utter overthrow of
howl, liquid, and bearer, by a drunken chief in • red
pettie sat. The yonng lady had bees much interested
in this discussion, and did not Mediate to pronounce D 3
strong language her opinion of those engaged. "What
does she say?' I asked of my serazig. lie gsve a slang
trepidation of her words. The language, though not
actionable, was by DO means what one likes to bear
from a " yottng person." Nevertheless, when I found
time to look at her, and marked the perfect and artistic
rcPure in which she leant against • pillar—her moulded
arms raised above her heed, and one exquisitelyahaped
ankle crossed upon the other—l felt that almost any
crime must be pardoned to such • creative. I stepped
scrota, and, looking on her smooth and rounded
shoulders, could not resist temptation—l put my um
round her neck—en tout honneur, s'il Tons plait!
picture, if you can, my hoe-rifled surprise to find the
pretty yellow colour of her skin 'cons. off" on my
whits sleeve! What the devil's this r I asked of my
tiering. "Turmeric, my lord!" he answered promptly.
That was • great blow!
I overcame the emotion by an effort. With the
tenderest expression I looked down into her eyes, which
suiled shyly back to mina. I started. Those beautiful
lids, so thickly fringed with silk, were unmistakably
stained. "What the devil's this?" I asked of my
serene. "Burnt woos-nut my lord," he calmly
answered. Again I felt • shock!
It needed • certain moral courage longer to contend.
Yet I kept my place. Suddenly the young girl broke
from my arm, and pursued a stalwart slave. reeling
do.. u the house with • bundle of tobacco, and • basket
of maize leaves. Him she overhauled, and from his
load snatched • handful of either substance, wrapped
the tobaciso in the dry leaf with • swift motion, thrust
one end of the cigarette thus made into • blazing hearth,
and returned to me, leisurely puffing at her prize. This
wee the third blow!

Still I held fast to my illusion, and entered into con-
versation with the booed She muttered a few frightened
words in answer to my remarks, and stood with down-
cast eyes, the very image of innocent,e and propriety.
On • sudden, • rush of trial-Core took place behind mi,
and one burly fellow, most notably excited with strong
drink, clasped my companion round the waist, and
dashed down the long verandah with her. "Li that ber
brother, or her lover r I asked of my serene.
"Probably neither, my lord I" he answered. I looked
on this profanation with eyes indignant, end disgust
expressed in my features. She Laughed, the bottri I
At the extreme end of the house, another partner,
drunk as the first, seised hold of her, passed
his braoeleted arm round her delicate waist, and
"rushed" her up the verandah once more. She paused
halide me, breathless, her eyes denting with glee I
There waa not the slightest trace of shame on boa
countenance! And yet ;hese radian" who bed taken
such • freedom on themselves, were as nearly drunk as
amen out be to stand upright. I was utterly over.
I hasteeed from the house, leapt aboard
my eanoe, and vanished down-strsatn. I did not expect
no see my dusky Hobe any more, nor, at the moment,
did I greatly wish to do so.

But • month after, I found myself once more in her
neighbourhood, having amended the river %Ain, aboard
a native gun-boat. We had with us a fine, tall warrior,
who pre himself out II eon to the " heave shier el