The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-08-05

or Wild Forest People, who were also
the Rjah's guests.
Inc naturalist was surprised and
dellghed. He was face to face with
the aporigines of Borneo, who live in
utter Wildness in the central forests
OF the lsland. Reports of their say
agenesSand ferocity and of their iso-
latlonifom the rest of the world had
reacfed him. He lost no time in
galnin&their favor, and so far sue
ceedeu That in few days he prevail
ep upon the chief to take him to his
tribe. khch, however, was the timid
ity o. bis strange people, that the
chlei INSISTED on going to prepare
them iqfa visit from a stranger. The
few Whbm Book saw had departed
from their custom in holding occa.
sionai Intercourse with the Dyaks,
but thst never communicated with
MAJ andno one could track them
inthsdense forest where they lived.
Inside of two days the chief re.
turned to guide Book to the Wild
mems Foest home. After padding
for several hours up the river, the
canoe was \urned into a creek and
suddenly was run ashore
There was 10 Ianding-place and no
sign of habtation, not even the
trace of path to show that human
foot had ever t'odden there before,
But, as Book afterwards learned.
there were certain marks on the trees
which showed the chief where the
resting-place ofhispeoplewas. Strug-
Cling through bamboo thicket, they
found themselves in a dense forest.
The chief uttered a curious cry.
"Hio! hio!".
In the distance we heard an an.
swering "hio ~
Directing their steps towards it, the
traveller soon saw three young wo-
men sitting under a large tree, one
of them holding a baby. Near by a
fourth woman roasting a monkey
suspended by sticks over fire. The
only cooking utensils the naturalists
saw were bamboo cylinders for boil.
ing rice. There was not even clay
pot or jar. The women were small,
dirty and almost naked. Their yell
low complexion interested Book. as
he saw it was due to their secluded
life in the dark forest.
Day and night these wild people
live in the open air. with no shelter
save the leaves of the trees. When
it rains they place over their naked
bodies mat, on which in fair weather
they sleep. A fire is always kept
burning at night, but they know not
the use of even the lowest sort of hut,
such as a bird would make out of
pouSi uIu lCdNoos 1HclT W0dpOuS
are blowing tubes and poisoning
arrows, and so expert are they in the
use of them, that they will hit small
bird at distance of fifty yards. The
men also carry a sword, with an edge
as sharp as razor's, which they have
borrowed from the Dyaks. So quick
is the effect of the poisoned arrow,
that dird or animal falls down into
convulsions as soon as hit, and dies
within few seconds. The arrow is
then removed by cutting out the
piece of flesh into which it has pene-
trated an inch all around. The game
thus killed Is eaten without the
slightest ill-effect.
The women, seeing Mr.. Brock,
with their chief, 80 far overcame
their timidity as to make signs to
him that they wanted beads and to-
bacco. His stay among these primi-
tive people Of the woods was limited
to one afternoon. But he is prob
ably the only European who has
ever looked on the face of woman
of the Wild Forest People.