Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-07-10

honey-tAo elders and hunters rescrv
} ing to themselves the haunch of tn,
kangaroo. the emu. the black duck ant
iguAnas. Oondilla returned to Win
dAru laden with honeycomb; q plum
young wood duck end pieces cut from
the latest emu. These latter she placed
In the oven, covered with aromatic gun
leaves, heaped over with earth to re
tain the heat. Windaru gazcG on he
sadly. From time itnmemorial thi
primeval people. when conquered. has
forfeited the flower Of their womankin,
to the conqucrors--and he loved Oon
dilla rs few Of his race had ever loved
| Sadness brooded in the air above lhs
camp. Instead of the gay, incessan
chatter of the women and children
mingling with the deeper tones Of the
men, there W. mournful hum as o.
disturbed hive uf bees. The old wo
men kept up wailing corroborec chant
beating with feeble hands the rolled
opossun rugs between their knees
The old men sat in council-the
Younger men taking no part in the de.
bate, but passing to and fro between
their own fires and where the gray.
boards sat. Some, in an irresolute
manner. finished half-madc weapons or
sharpcned blunted spears, hardening
their points in the fire. As the night
wore on the encampment became silent.
The fires grew dim. But the gray hunt
ers and warriors talked on.
On the morning following the evil
tidingso of Windaru the camp of the Epoi
was early as,ir. A silent meal was
made from the fragments of the even
ing feast. AS the sun appeared in the
east twelve graybcards Of the tribe.
headed by Worancou, chief of the Epoi
and father of Windaru, stalked into the
open space reserved in the center of the
camp. Worangou p.antedlhis weapon
in the ground and stood beside it. Then
each of the eleven thrust his spear into
the earth, forming n circle round their
chief. every man standing beside his
weapon in the inside OF the ring.
At signal from Worangou the men
of the tribe drew near to hear the de-
cision of the wise men in this novel
danger. When all were present the
chief spoke:
my children" he said, "you have
all heard the tale of sorrow told by
Windaru. A floating island has ap-
preached our shores, from which have
landed men of different color. covered
with skins of animals unknown to us, and
bearing in their hands weapons which
destroy with fire. How shall our spears
successfully contend against warriors
VINO nave but 10 hold forth an arm TO
l.
destroy their foes! Legends have
reached the wise men OF Epoi from
tribes on the northern shores OF the
great water. These legends tell that
many years ago iioatlng islands ap-
peared To them. Men, white IN color.
and armed with the same strange weap-
ons' landed and made an encampment
upon ihelr hunting grounds.
What happened, U warriors OF the
Epoif The tribes OF the mort hern shore
Tell before the white men as leaves be-
tore the great dust storm. They OPP
posed them IN vain. We, If we oppose
them' snail also be destroyed and our
women made prey. and my Old
men have, through the long watches of
the night, taken counsel as to how we
may save the hunting grounds OF the !
Epol. Let us meet the strange people |
with boughs OF peace In our hands. |
ohould they become our friends, 1t will
be well. II our enemies, an Epoi can
de. L, with my old men and twelve |
young men, Will go forth to-day. We
VIII oier peace to the stranger.
Worangou. having finished speaking, !
selected, amic profound silence. twelve
hunters IRON the tribe to accompany
hlm. Among them strobe Windaru.
AT sign from their ehlef, the hunters
sPranS Ike squirrels into the branches
Df the huge trees surrounding the |
camp, ana with their stone axes cut
from them large boughs.
Armed only with these weapons of
peace. the company OF heralds set forth
70 proher Fassaiage to the white man.
Va arriving within view OF the sea. the
ruth OF the tale told by Windaru was
apparent Inc foatlng island rested
lnietiy on the water. with the three
eaiiess pines upreared toward heaven.
Many tents were already pitched on the
more, wnlle pale, full-beardcd. strong
men were gathering ilrewood and cook
ng food. Canoes OF large size went
backward and forward between the
'hore and lhe dreaded island Woran-
.ou placed himself at the head of his
title oand' and all danced toward the
Vhite men, waving their boughs high
'ver their heads aud chanting the song
II peace.
'I,as - {xy- 1. I