Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-01-19

chase by dogs, which are their only do
IGesticated ANIMALS. They drink nothing
out water, which, however, is never used
for ablution, they having an idea that
washing would take away their strength.
They chew the bark of certain trees, but
do not use tobacco in any shape. The
tallest Weddas described were about five
feet three inches and the shortest four feet
one inch; but Mr. Hartshorne has seen
one, young male, apparently Of eighteen,
who stood five feet four and tnree-quarters
inches. Notwithstanding their small size
and slight physique the strength which
they possess in the arms and especially in
the left arm, Is very remarkable This is
due to their constant use of the bow, which
is six feet long and pulls from forty-eight
TO fifty six pounds, with an arrow three
feet six inches in length This is pulled
to the head, and they dwell on their aim
sometimes for couple of minutes without
the slightest tremor OF the left arm being
perceptibe. On one occasion the author
saw Wedda shoot dog thirty five yards
off, the arrow passing through nearly the
whole length OF the animal, entering the
hind quarter and coming out at the shout
der
Their only other weapon is a small AK.
Fire is still occasionally produced by the
fire stick, which is made of the same
wood as their arrows, butm frequently
by flint and steel, which they obtain in
exchange for hides and bees wax Photo
graphs were exhibited to show their gen
eral appearance, and these brought out
their most striking characteristics, viz
extreme shortness OF the thumbs and
sharply pointed elbows Their counte-
nances are absolutely devoid of any ex-
preston OF intelligence, and their utter
neglect Of their persons gave an air of
extreme barbarism. The women wore
necklaces and ornaments in their ears,
foy which beads and empty cartridge
cases are employed. Their faces wear an
expression of great unhappiness and they
never laugh, all attempts to induce them
to laugh utterly falling; indeed the exhi-
bition OF laughter by another person pro-
duces unmstakabe expressions of dis
gust. When asked why they do not
laugh they reply; why should WEI
What is their TO laugh aty" They have
no words to convey the idea of colors or
numbers and they cannot count on their
fingers. One Of the most intelligent of
the men had utterly forgotten the names
of his father and mother who were dead,
and had great difficulty in recalling the
name of his wife, whom he had
seen only three days before. A Viii
lage Wedda, confined for the murder
OF person whom he thought
had bewitched him, after three months
attendance at school had only been able
to learn nine letters and eighteen num-
bers. They have no idea OF the soul or
of future state, and, though they speak
of "A superior being, man questioned on
this point did not know whether it was a
good or an evil being, He was not afraid
of it, nor did he pray to it. When
death occurs the body is wrapped in a
hide and buried by the men, who dig
grave with their hatchets and pointed
stakes. No women are allowed to be
present at the intermcnt Nothing is put
into the grave nor is the spot ever revis-
tied An Offering of food is made to the
dead, with the adjuration " Ye dead per
son, take We this food" hut the viends are
then divided and consumed by those
present They have no idea of stealing
and polygamy and polyandry are I'M
known. Though they marry their sis
tiers, they never marry the eldest sister,
and there is no marriage ceremony be
yond a presentation of food to the parents
of the bride, who has no choice in the
selection of her husband, the subsection
of women being complete. The eldest
male Wedda is regarded with patriarchal
respect, but all others are equal, caste
being unknown. Very little information
is to be derived from their language, eN-
Cept that il seems TO be agreed among
philologistS that il is the only savage Ian
guage which is of unmistakable Aryan
origin. London StaHdnrd