Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-26
LIFE Avn THE sOUTn POLE.
The Land of strong stomachs--sin.
guIar Annual Ordeal. tt..r.l

guIar Annual Ordeal. atom
BY the arrival Of the good ship Wasp,
Captain Jenking, who has been sailing
in the vicinity Of the new South Conti-
nent, SAYS the New York Globe some
startling peculiarities Of the jewellers at
the antipodes are brought to light las
again TO be remarked, however, that hui
man nature maintains its most striking
peculiarities all the world over. Only
change the, costume, climate, traditions,
and the ages, and almost precisely the
same idiosyncracies noticeable in one
race will be found cropping, out luxuri-.
l.antly in all the others. Thus, though
the Inhabitants of the Antarctic region,
designated Spoolaka, eat their flesh
raw, and, if possible, while still alive, yet
in their manner of keeping festive occa-
sions their practices are wonderfully like
our own. 1ntheir annual festival, enti-
tied the New Season, everybody is ex-
pected to keep open house for the entire
day, and all who enter habitation are
booked for tobah (about ten pounds) Of
meat and dobah (near half a GALLON of
liquor. If the visitor fails to appropriate
at least this amount, he is ever after re-
garded as outlawed-a man OF neither
power nor reliance-in short, he is said
to surely have weak stomach The
greatest pains are taken from early
childhood TO brace the digestive organs
in every conceivable way, so that when
the annual festival comes of, the young
men may conduct themselves with be-
coming dignity. For week before the
great day nothing whatever is eaten, and
the greatest labor is spent in preparing
large quantities both of solids and liquids
for the browning fete. Not only must
the young men be able to bolt at least the
amount specified, but they must be able TO
carry it away gracefully. So wonderfully
do they succeed in training their stom-
achs that often a young man is seen walk
ing away from neighbor' house with at
least forty pounds more substance slowed
away beneath his lockers than when he
entered the hospitable harbor. Unless
man devours the stipulated quantity, he
is considered disrespectful to the hostess,
and is therefore regarded as an enemy.
During tie year, when a youngster gives
any sign of weakness, the cry is imme
diately raised, He'll never stand the
New Season. SO dire is the fear of not
being able to come safely out of this or
deal, that often the day after the festival
individuals are found lying in obscure
places literally bursted open from head
to foot. During the day they are ex-
pected to visit all the principal magnates
Of the village, and at each place an i'm
mense plate of meat and a pitcher OF
"tunbee (liquor) is placed before them.
The old men of the village they are
called old at the age of twenty-seyen, as
the stomach soon breaks down on ac
count of the tremendous strain) remain
at home with their wives to receive the
eallants. 1t is the object of the young
man, no matter how he feels, TO keep up
an appearance of the most exuberant
spirits, and even when offered his for
tieth plate of meat, and ditto tun-
bee," his point IS to appear
as though his appetite still retained
the keenest edge Often when the
poor fellow is at his last grasp, and feels
the feather is approaching which viii
break the camefs back, he takes huge
goblet from the hand of simpering
Hebe, and with a heavenly display of
ivory and roll of the eyes as if " he |
heard an angel sing" gulps the stirring |
bumper and backs gracefully from the
rancho. For two weeks after the great |
festival, all the young men who have
survived the ordeal are to be found Sc
cluded in the neighboring caves, while
in every direction the miserable wrecks
of those who attempted to be heroes,
but failed, are to be seen strewed over
the hills and fields. Unlike our own
glorious land of the bars and stars,
stomach here is everything