Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-11
DISCOMFORTS OF SAVAGE LIFE.

Germans think ana say much the same thing,
man notions." Persons not quite so unso.
phisticated as the inhabitants OF serious cir
cles speak of the French writers of the last
philOSOpheS and the encyclopedias as il all
the philosophers and all the writers in the
EncyclopSdla were agreed on most topics; 1t
LANCER Q725- 1852 was one of the exceptions
which proved this rule, If rule it is. Nicolas
Antoine did not exclaim, like Rousseau. Mr..
and H s , Row
rather struck by the gloom than the mirth of
the natural tribes whose customs he observed.
the solemnity of races living, as it were. in an
age prior to hum6r or wit-he hit upon the
Deluge. Ssvages retain traditions OF the Del.
uge ne sad they are always on the LOOKOUT LOT
and chills the genial current of their hilarity.
The flood certainly was melancholy event.
70 IS Ear
Whether they do or do not live, like uncon-
scious disciples Of DR.. Cummings, in daily
have plenty to sadden them. Like the often
quoted Weddahs of Central Ceylon, they do
lot see what there is to laugh at: Readers of
silent laugh" of the immortal Hawke Eye. As
a civilized being, he did see good deal to
laugh at as an adopted savage, he knew the
startIe the deer or arouse the attention of the
hostile MingO. On the whole, a joke is scarcely
worth taking ones life in ones hand for, and
Might expect to hs scalp ' the
enemies who did not indulge in the sense of
humOr. To ascribe the gravity of mature
folk" entirely to one cause, whether that eau e
be lively memory of the flood or lively
dread OF lurking enemies, would be unphilo-
SOphical, and unworthy of the age of Mr.. Her.
bert Spencer. 1t is easy enough in all con-
science to discover host of reasons for the
gloom OF Andaman Islander. the IrOquOis, or
the HottentOt. 1t would be odd if they did
take CHEEKY view of existence, considering
all that, in the dark places OF the earth man
has done with man.
The natural miseries of the barbarous life
have often been dwelt upon. They are com
binatiOn of the seamy side of the gamekeep-
ers profession and of the gypsey's business,
with considerable dash of the diScomf0rts of
a pauper lunatic asylum without keepers AS
to the exposure, cold, wet, hunger and thirst,
travellers and mOraliSts have had plenty to
say They lay less stress on the cruel tyranny
fiith-fOrm bully. The pains of a savage begin
when he is a baby. His, or her, head is
strapped tightly to board, which is worn TIL
fiat fiat desk ehe psaked snare
is rather lucky who has all this trouble taken
with him, for he may be used as bait for sharks
or loT tigers, or, IN very religious family in
idol. Suppose the infant is taken up as the
Romans significantly said, and allowed to live,
n has comparatively easy time till he reaches
IL
be counted man, and the religious and social
and military ceremonies which answer re-
Spectively to confirmation, matriculatiOn and
!"ining regiment, are of the most pain
ful kind. Religion generally requires that
t. e boy or girl shall steal away into the
Wildtrne IS, build a lodge of forest boughs, and
is almost dead of hunger and thirst he general
ly manages to see vision of some sort or, if
not, he lnyentS an experience, and returns 10
the tribe. He is welcomed withthe enthusiasm
iS forth
member OF the savage church. If he goes on
seeing Visions encouraged by the success of
his first attempt, he takes rank as pow-wow,
or medicine man. No profession is more
lucrative or more respected, as the seer has a
share in all lands melted out, a word to say on
questions OF peace and war, and large per
been tortured to death as wizards and witches.
1t is not, however, given to every one to dream
dreams, and the ordinary savage begins to
t; ste the full bitterness of his cup. He has to
expose himself to voluntary tortures and to
stare for hours at the sun if he wishes to take
rank as brave. The practical jokes of
these initiatory torments. At the age when
young EngliShman begins to be a dandy, a
young native of the Admiralty Islands is
Of 1G Pay n his to the
however, the words must be taken in
their most literal sense. 1t actually is his per
son that he adorns with inlaid colors and a
hundred graceful patterns, worthy of the best
days OF Greek pottery or of Celtic art. His
back, arms and legs are carved with vOlutes
and Spirals, the key pattern encircles his neck,
his arm0rlal bearings are chaStely engraved
Oh his chest, gold pins are stuck, not into his
scarf, but into his limbs, and his movements
are hampered by. letters of sea-shells The
effect, it may be frankly admitted, is admir-
able; but it is produced after months, if not
years, OF intense pain. Let any member of
the Anti-Vaccination League think what the
years ali over the body This is but feeble be
way Of expressing the discOmfOrts caused by
The demands of savage fashion. Man. being
Tin state of nature) the vainest OF animals,
does not encourage woman to tattoo herself.
II Mr.: Darwin is right, the males of the race
should be born with natural decorative pat
terms, Just as the peacock has his elaborate tail
feathers.
Iattooing, the court dress of the state of
nature, has obviously its discomforts. But
are more disagreeable in savage than in civil
lied society. Millions of our felOw-creatures
shave with stone raZOrs. The thought is a
stupendous one. proving, among other, things,
that, when primitive man has an ideal, when
he thinks it the thing not to wear a beard, his
sense OF duty is all powerful, and he shrinks
from no Inconvenience. Probably a sharp
shell makes better razor than the edge of a
flint, and bronze Is, no doubt, still better than
either. Yet even in the bronze age the barba-
rian who would have smooth chin needs a
the brave throwing himself on the ground and
allowing tribesman to shave him almost
without groan. When the business is done,
w" ii III luTu, anu enOureS
the BARRIERS office like lamb. Moreover, as
good society often demands sharp filed teeth
az well as clean-shaved face, the agonies of
the fashionable are increased by one of the
keeneSt OF minor tOrmentS.
The dlScOmfOrtS OF savage love affairs and
marriages are sufficiently well. known. They
do not greatly differ from what is endured by
civilized people who intend to enter the state
of matrimOny. The engaged young man is
placed with his bride in the centre of crowd
OF the lady's relatives, who throw spears at
the Interesting couple. This closely answers
TO the criticism of modern kinSfOlk but the
savage ordeal is soon over, and leaves no
malice nor longing for revenge. The bridal
ceremonies are of various degrees of painful
ness, though they are not so bad perhaps as
fashionable weddings among us. CuriOusly
enough it is common in New Zealand and the
events all the portable property of the happy
man. Our burglars, who invariably pilfer the
jewels of the bride during the HONEYMOON,
have revived practice which to omit in some
countries would be to show gross rudene-s
and ignorance of the customs of society,"
When the young people have reason to expect
III addi ion TO their circle, the husband is
treafed with almost cruel kindness. He is not
allowed to walk or rum he may not hunt, he
may not eat hare lest his son should prove a
coward, nor pork lest he be sensual nor cha
meleon Ia great dainty lest his character
turn out unstable. The unhappy man is con-
hned to his bed, and when, after ALL his child
is horn, the tribe of the mother comes down
breaks the pottery, tears up the plants in the
garden kills the pig, carries off the furniture
clubs and spears.
Coz nyxhN IL 90 how 80 toDYcI ho&