Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-27


them, shall also he destroyed and our
women made prey. | and my old
men have, through the long watches
of the night, taken counsel as to how
wo may saw tho bunting grounds OF
Opoi. Let ns meet tho strange people
with bonghs of peace in our hands.
Should they become our friends it will
be well! If our eitemies, all Epoi can
die. l, with my old men and twelve
young men, will go forth to-day. We
will offer peace to stranger
Worangou, having finished spcaking,
selected, amid profound silence, twelve
hunters from the tribp TO accompany
him. Among them strobe Windarn. At
a sign from their chief the hunters
sprang like squirrels into tic branches
of the huge trees surrounding the camp,
and y ith their stone axes cut from them
large boushs.
Armed only with these weapons OF
peace, the company of hera)ds Set forth
to proffer vassala:cto to the white man.
On arriving within view of the sea, the
truth of the tale told by Windaru was
apparent. The floating island rested
quietly on the water, with the three
leaness pines upreared toward heaven,
Many tents were already pitched on tho
shore, while pale, full bearded, strong
men were gathering tirewood aud cook
ing food. Canoes of large sizo went
back and forward between the shore
and the dreaded island. WOranSou
placed himself at the head Of his little
band, and all danced towards tho white
men, waving their boughs high over
their heads, and chanting the song of
peace. o
The strangers came forth to meet
them; and pcrceiying that tho dark
SONS Of tho toll were unarmed, laid
down their weapons. Then for the first
time, on the shores Of the great ocean,
the black man and the white man Sazed
at each Others eyes. With kindly signs
the white men invited Worangou and
his followers to their camp. Food was
offered to them. They were presented
with iron axes, with mirrors, beads and
gay colored handkcrchiefs. heyoungcr
men, all save Windaru, quickly lost fear
of the dreadful strangers, 1t was long
before they tired of circlips their heads
with the gaudy cloth and viewing their
swartly couutcnances for the first time
in mirroN
Wiudaru and Wo1angou talked apart.
The future destiny of their hitherto
free and beautiful country was appa'
rcntly revealed but to these two.
As the father and son talked, youth
and age seemed wondrous}y alike. Their
souls appeared to lave penetrated their
bodies. These soris were fate laden.
Who shall decide which bore the keen
est agony! Youth with withered Flu
tme--agc with its Past erased!
No longer would Worangou sing to
himself the war song Of the Epoi, telling
of by.g gone glory, the wisdom OF its old
men, the strength of its youth. The
white Destroyer had come. The Past
and the Future of the black men died
on the same day.
Peace was established with tho stran-
gers. Tho Epoi oncampment was chang.
ed to spot within short distance OF
the tents. Generous of gifts were the
foreigners, for they needed guides to
point out tho fertile p|ains--to lead
them TO the broad inland lakes.
Weeks passed away. The Epoi still
fingered by the fonts Of the strangers,
Other floating islands arrived. From
these came forth animals as strange to
the Inhabitants of the land as were the
white men themselves. Sheep with
woolly skins. Cattle whose horns re-
semble boomcrinss. Dogs, swifter and
more fierce tllau any they had seen
Birds which had wings, but did not fly.
Willingly did the Epoi toll for Their
new found friends. The sheep and cat
tie were guided to the haunts of the kan
garoo and wallaby, where the longest
and sweetest grasses grew. Tho ganlt
fled scared back to the hills. Hunting
seemed forgotten by the tribe. They fed
on the offai of the slaughtered beasts
Tho fierce dogs of the stranger pulled
down for them tho kangaroo and emu
They smoked the rest-weed of the white
man. They drank his tire-water, ant
danced and shouted among themselves
In these days Worangou, with Windaru
and Oondilla, dwelt apart. They looked