The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-11-14


Atawana. She belonged to tribe
which was fiercely hated by her
captors, and they determined to
avenge themselves upon her. She
was tukon out into tho center of
the village, stripped naked and
bound. Then with wur clubs she
was beaten and fell as if dead to the
ground. But while life yet linger-
ed, u woman of Atawana rushed up
to the PROSTATE body, and, with
ferocious yell, dug her iingcre into
the eyes Of her victim, plucked
them out of their sockets, and ate
them in the presence of the infuri-
atcd and applauding multitude.
Afterward, while the body of the
victim was yet warm, she was
disemboweled and her entrails were
taken out and devoured, the canni-
balls fighting with each other for
their share. Her whole body was
then cut to pieces and divided up
among the cannibals present. While
indulging in this almost incredible
brutality, shouts of joyous venge-
ance wcro heard on every side. The
cannilals fairly revcled in dcvour~
ing nearly every atom of the body.
They washed down the fesheaten
with native Intoxicating drinks, and
after the carnage was concluded q
triumphant war~dance Of vengeance
followed.
SkCRJEICINH REJJHJnTrS yICrI>rc
Great pornp and solemnity sur
rounds victims intended for re-
ligious sacrifices, and none but
high priests can otficiate in tho most
solemn ceremonies. The priests
have numerous attendants, mostly
young boys, who arc being edn-
Gated for priestly honors. The
victim selected is usually man Of
note among the tribe, and while he
is in the hands of his religious
torturers, previous to the act of
sacrifice, receives some considera-
ton. When the hour arrives he is
placed upon q large stone, to which
his body is bound firmly. The
priests then chant low walls, which
increase in volume until it seems as
if they were shrieking. Charms,
spells and incantations are then
brought into play, the priests oc-
casionally placing their hands upon
the intended sacrifice, who never
utters q word from the time he is
selected as sacrifice to the moment
of his death. The instant selected
for performing the operation being
reached, the chief priest advances
toward the victim, and, feeling for
the beating Of the heart, announces
to his attendants that he is ready to
commence. He then takes q knife
and deliberately cuts out the heart,
the victim writhing in agony during
the process. To speak or utter a
word during this frightful process
would be cowardice, al evidence
that tho sacrifice had acknowledged
the power of his enemies. The
heart cut out, it is handed to a
young priest, who bears it off to
the highest chief, the priest con-
sidering this the greatest honor of
his life. The victim quickly expires,
and then the whole body is cut up
and divided among those waiting to
receive their portions of it, The
flesh ola religious victim is more
highly priced than that of any other,
all the portions considered most
choice being reserved for the high
priests and high chiefs.
TIE VICTIMS MOST HIGHLY pR1zED.
The cannibals have epicurean
tastes, and fine sense of the
various shades of delicacy of diff
fercnt classes of victims. The flesh
most highly priced is that of the
African, and a colorod man who in
life, neither drank liqour nor
smoked if he falls into tho hands of
the Marquesas cannibals, is certain
to have the highest respect shown
him. He will bo fed luxuriously,
and tended carefully up to the time
that he is to be sacrificed The
bodies Of the missionaries take
second rank, because in life they are
supposed to have used neither
liquors nor tobacco. Sailors are
not esteemed a luxury, because
their flesh is thoroughly saturated
with smoke, whiskey and salt water.
The cannibals have the most dainty
sense Of smell in this respect, and
will tell instantly whether their
victim has ever been in the habit Of
using liquors or stimulants of any