Nebraska advertiser., 1868-01-09

10 strip US, and feel OF our limos ana
bodies. after The manner Of so many
butchers examining the animals they
intend 10 slay. We remembered we were
among cannIbaIs, tFembled with terror,
and regretted we had not persisted with
the vessel. Both of my companions were
larger and stouteF than myself, and one
was quite Reshy. With him The savages
seemed much pleased. They pinched
and paued him. and nodded 70 each
other with smlles-vhile he, poor fellow.
with ashen trembling lips, and eyes half
starting from their sockets. looked the
horror we felt, but which no language
could speak. Next 10 their approval
was my other companion, but for myself
they cared little and for Once 10 my life
l thanked Heaven for being small, thin,
bony, and muscular. After this examl-
nation they went ous, carrying all our
clothes with them. In the course Of an
hour they brought US a large dish OF
boiled rice. and about a gallon Of water,
and then left US for the night. We had
little appetite for eating, as may readily
be believed ard our feverish sleep, on
the moist, bare ground, was filled with
the most hOrrid dreams.
The storm sbated about midnighl. and
the morning broke far. At daylight six
savages came into our prison with ropes,
aud proceeded to bind our arms behind
our backs. They hen led US OUT 10 a sort
Of common in The center Of the village,
where most of the inhabitants were col
lected-nearly every Indian, male and
female, being attended by a Chinese
slave Of the sex. Ia the middle of the
area Nas a circular wall of masonry,
about FIVE feet high and sixlyin %circumfer'
ence ; and around the inner side OF tins
wall, was a row Of faggots. The largest
Of my c%mapanions was now separated
from US, and bound back to back with a
GhinAman of neal his Own size; and
then, amid cries Of terror from the two
victims, and shouts Of delight from the
savage spectators. they were lifted over
into the arena, aud the faggols set on
fire. The spectacle which followed was
horrid beyond descriptions and the shrieks
means, and groans of the poor fellows,
as the flames e~ncompassed and bllstered
their flesh, and then literally roasted
them alive, are ringing in my ears yet
Being dashed back TO back, each ons, as
he retreated from the circular fire, pushed
the other nearer to It; and their struggles
in this way, made a iendlsh sport for
their tormentors, who almost drowned
their Screams of agony with yells Of
laughter. When al last they fell the
down exhausted, they were left upon
The ground TO bake ull the fire burned out;
then their dead and roasted bodies were
removed and eaten. each one cutting of
a Slice to his or her liking, and devouring
il greedily. When all was over, my
companion and myself were taken back
TO our prison, more dead Than aliVe-in
fact, wishing ourselves dead.
We we're kept shut up their for a week,
and Ihen be was taken out and roasted in
the same manner, and / was left alone,
the last survivor of hat Inflated crew.
/ starved myself as much as possible,
for fear | should get into a good condi
zion for their hOrrid purpose ; and after
keeping me a week longer, my captors
signifed that l nigh, take one of the
squaws TO wife and have my liberty. 4.
The female selected for my partner was !
old and ugly but the hope of escape :
made me seem pleased with the revolving
alternative, and thus | became a member
Of The internal tribe. :
For a month ! was closely watched ;
and guarded; but | affected 10 be so well
cOntented with my new life, that by I
the end of that time their vigilance
began 10 relax and then | felt almost 8
certain of being able to effect my escape :
TO the other side Of the island, and their !
finding a refuge among another race
Meantime / had TO be a witness of
several other human rOastings. ;,
OF the cannibals of FormOsa, I have
little knowledge beyond those of the viii {
lage in which I was for three months a
prisoner but from what L saw / am
compelled to believe the whole race are
complete savages, without industry or
art, aud moi a wit removed from the
baTbaTlsm of their ancestors. II is true
their houses and lands have a look of
civilization but these they W to the
skill and labor Of their captives, whom
they employ or destroy, as suits their
pleasure or caprice. Like the North
American Indians, they are fond of
athletic sports, and spend much Of their
time in hunting, fishing, fighting and
msrauding. They have war-sOngs and
war-dances, and believe in some sort of
religion, which principally consists in
propiIiating the evil spirit by means of
the most diabOllcal human sacrifices.
Some of the woman are rather comedy
in appearance, but their natures are
fierce and intractable, and their moral
qualities of the lowest order. The three
months / was compelled 10 remain
with these savages wal an age of horror,
and did more to break down my con-
s%titUtion than previous years Of hardships,
exposures, and privations.
AT last l managed to escape in the
night; and after ~concealing myself Two
days 10 q hollowtree, / pursued my way,
with perilous adventure, and reach ed a
large Chinese settlement in an exhaust
ed condition. Here, al least, / was
kindly treated and cared for; and at last
succeeded in getting passage TO Canton.
and thence TO my native land. Bot since
my return / RndI am not the same man
! was before, and the recollection of the
horrid scenes / witnessed often makes
me shudder ia my waking moments. and
shrek out with terror in my sleep.
I