Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-02-24

SLOW measure, twice or thrice; then
leaned down, with their heads bowed 10
tne ground, while amidst a perfect fury
OIL tom-toms and gongs the ceremony Of
nayhg the slam cattle commenced. And
aIIer another march round the pole and
Senefai chorus, chief stepped to the
'front.' and made an Grafton, which was
greatly applauded. The women danced
round hand in hand, and, opening ont
INTO lI two parties, allowed the men with
sie sayals heads to enter, and closed up
the space behind them. The five heads
were placed equidistant from one another
ana IRON the pole; both men and women
stepped over them with mincing gait
ciapplng their hands and keeping time
TO the rude music salaaming ut the
same time to the human heads. They did
tins twice then joining hands. men in
the inner ring and women in the o,,ter
danced round furiously, and suddenly
broke oil into small parties: and while
the warriors, weary from their long and
hurried journey, retired to rest. the
women and those who had not Joined in
the foray cut up the gayals and pre-
pared the evening feast.
Inc foregoing, which is but faint de-
scrlpnon OF the frightful and disgusting
scene, was not over till past noon. I
had been apparently forgotten while it
lasted. lay tied to the stretcher, with
out the least shelter from the sun. ST.
lent and Mortified spectator of this
shocking spectacle. The sun had raised
plisters over my face, neck and shoulders.
was taken to the chiefs house and lib
Grated; but, being unable to move. I
was carried into corner and there de-
! posted, where l soon became uncon-
selous; raging fever set in, and all I re-
membered for some time was incessant
drumming, and night made hideous with
debauchery and diabolcal rites and
noises; but whether it was really SO
cannot state positively, for / was
hSht-headed many days and when
recovered sufficiently to notice occur
rences had lost all reckoning. and knew
neither the date of the month. nor the
day Of the week, nor the duration of my
| illness.
All this time had never heard word
OF my husband. / knew his indom-
table character, and was sure he would
not be satisfied with mere rumors or
| surmises, but would search for me till
he ascertained beyond doubt whether /
| was dead or alive, and would rescue me
or die IN the attempt. / had now learned
some OF the Maya language, but did not
let any OF them know of my knowledge :;
and now and then / was cheered by hear
ing them say force was advancing into
the hills; but, alas my exuliaiion
was short lived, for the commandant
who was a very inefficient officer. al.
lowed himself to be surprised and beaten
back with severe loss and. sad to saw
among the heads brought in by the saw
ages recognized one as that of poor
| youngS who had but lately Joined the
regiment, and who had been our guest
but nine months before. On another
occasion recognized two brothers, tea
planters, who had lived about twenty
miles from us, and who, it appears, had
made desperate resistance before be-
ing overpowered by numbers, and slain.
| Whenever the raiders returned. how my
heart sank with dread, for / feared to
find among their CHASTITY trophies the
head of my dear husband
l think the Nagas looked upon me as
a harmless idiot, for they sllowed me to
wander about the stockade without him
drance and learned that, though APP
parently impregnable on three faces,
yet secret passage existed in the
north face, by which they could retreat
In case of need. My heart was aching
to reach my husband, especially when [
learned he was so near so determined
to escape. l did not now refuse the
| food set apart for me, but for o week or
| ten days husbanded my strength, and
I ate and drank all they offered me.
Buoyed up on hope, my health greatly
improved and my strength came back
rapidly. My own scanty clothes had
worn off my back long ago, and was
now dressed like Maya woman. with
only shirt and petticoat had neither
shoes nor stockings, yet / made up my
mind to try to escape directly the nights
were sufficiently dark for that purpose
and l was further assisted by another
orgie of the savages, who had again sur
| prised post and brought home more
heads, and had another heavy drink and
| debauch.
While the deviltry was at its height,
commencing myself to an all-powerful
Ruler, stepped into the secret oassage
and fed, not only for my life, but for
dear liberty, home and husband. /
knew enough of Capt. BIS character
10 be sure that, if succeeded in reach
ing his camp, and he learned the secret
OF the passage by which had escaped,
he would be anxious to surprise the enc
my's stronghold. Twas doubtful wheth-
er my strength would enable me to reach
his outposts, but / was sure never
could guide the troops back, even if I
had the courage to return to such de-
| testable spot. So / took bundle of
| cotton with me, and left little here and
| there from the end of the secret passage
| to the main pathway, which led down
the ghaut. Although the night was
pitchy dark, had no difficulty, once /
was out of the secret passage, in finding
the path down to the plains, and the
distance between it and the stockade was
barely quarter of mile. Where tho
| path diverged stuck a iorked stick with
| O good handful of cotton in it, and point
! ing toward the direction to be taken. I
| knew wild beasts abounded in these
/ jungles, but SO joyous was at the idea
| of escape / gave them no heed, but hur-
| ried down MS fast as my unprotected feet
would carry me. I had anticipated a
| good five he Irs' march; but imagine
! nv delight when I was challenged by a
/ Goorkha of the Third Light Infantry
| (now the Forty-fourth Light Infantry
before / had been two hours ON the
| journey. / could have Rugged the ugly
but brave little soldier but as / was, to
al intents and purposes, Maya in dress
!, and dirt, he would not allow me to pass
his post, and was at loss what to do,
and all but crying, when / heard my
| own husbands voice asking what the
| row was about Regardless of the SEN
| try. / rushed forward, and, crying ooh,
| Willie, don't you know me ?" fell into
my husbands arms, and barely escaped
! thrust made at me by the honest little
Goorkha, who thought was some witch
| of a Maya intent on mischief.
1t would be useless trying to describe
the next few moments. Half laughing,
half crying, chung TO my dear one,
thankful to feel his protecting arm once
more round me. and told him in few
words what l had suffered and how l
had escaped. He thought the news so
important that he urged me to see Capt
B at once, utterly unfit though
was to see any civilized being. He told
me the information / could give might
be the making of him and Capt. b
that our garden was destroyed, and we
all but penniless and if he could rem
der Government some important service
he might get employment. So, for his
dear sake, / instant'y consented; and IN