The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-26
a Curious People.

nominally subject during four centuries,
Is inhabited III its eastern part by an alb
original race of whom but the other day
less was known than Of any other peo-
pie in the world The eastern half of
the island is divided from the western
by range OF mountains Of an altitude
varying between 5000 and 10000 feet.
and this natural barrier has proved an
ellectual obstacle in the path not only
OF the Chinese, but or the Dutch and
other adventurers who in times past es-
tabiShcd themselves in this beautiful
and productive island.
Tamsui, now considered the best har-
Dor in the north, and uscir as such III
preference to Kelung, wAS Mr.. Ham
cocks official station. While there his
curiosity was easily aroused as to the
savage natives of the interior by the re-
ports he received Of the valor and Zero.
city with which they defended their
coveted camphor woods against the en-
croachmentS Of the Chinese settlers.
This strife, though bitter, did not alto
gcthcr prevent their carrying on a bar
ter trade with the Chinese, although
''middle-men" or 'go-bctwccns" are
always employed for conducting the
necessary transactions. These ego
bctwcens" live on Chinese territory,
but they arc generally, if not always, of
native descent. Whenever they visit
the hills they have in any ease TO assume
the native costume, which is extremely
primitive, consisting of striped tunic
OF cloth and Il nccklct of beads. II was
to one of these men that Mr.. Hancock
went when he formed the resolution to
penetrate into the dense woods covering
the mountains of these people, who do
not possess Il name. Mr.. IIancock's
llrst object was to obtain sight of these
mountainccrs, and the "go.betwccn
promised to carry out his wishes by
means Of Il feast. Having assumed the
necessary to enable him to cross the
neutral zone between the Chinese settle
ments and the native villages, the ego
Dctwcen." whom Mr.. Hancock calls a
typical llawkeyc," proceeded into the
hills to announce that Il feast of e'pip
and samshu" awaited those who cared
to come to his hut for it, 1t appeared
| that these dclicacieS possess irresistible
attractions to the native mind, and it
was not long before there were shouts
that they were coming, and "tlrec
men and girl" were seen approaching
the hut. One of the men was Il chief,
and the girl was aged about twenty.
The men carried long bamboo spears,
with iron heads; but Mr.. IIamcock's s
Chinese attendants insisted on these
weapons being left outside the door.
When they sat down, Mr.. Hancock had
an opportunity of examining them, and
his impressions were far1iom being un-
favorable. The men wore q long piece
OF cloth like bed-ticking, which was
suspended from the shoulders, and
simply tied i'll Il knot and left OF pen in
front. Round the waist was a girdle of
blue material, also tied in Il knot in
front. Their legs were entirely bare.
On the head was Il curious close fifth ing
bowl Of wicker-worll, of dark color, re-
sembiing am inverted Slop basin. Their
llalr was quite black, and hung in
| coplous locks round the neck; their
complexion was light olive, and in their
case not specially pronounced. The
girl was argely built, and of an Egyp-
tan type of face, which reminded him
OF "lhc bas-rclicf on mummy coffin. +"
Her dress was similar to that of the
men, but there was more of it, and she
wore leather mOcaSSinS. Her earrings
were peculiar, consisting of a ''collplc
or pieces of carved bamboo, thicker
than pencil, and about IN inch long,
thrust through the ears, and holding
suspended little strings of blue glass
beads, and flat bits of white IVORY
The news of tho coming feast spread
rapidly, and eight more "Savagcsn
soon arrived. These were Of both sexes,
| and ono girl was pronounced to be not
onl y good looking, but Of dignlicd
| and graceful mien." SHE wore a black
| ,1r t,,iI
rest, was tattoocd.
the very foot of the mountains. and as
soon as the party left 'IIawkeyc'sn hut
they began to ascend. Beyond the first
range extended a thick belt of Jungle,
which continued until the ascent of tho
loiticr peaks began. Before entering
| the Jungle tho principal guide, chief,
'Dlcw Il small reed whistle, and then
l1lscdH peculiar and melancholy wal, -
TO give warning that friends were ap-
| proachlng. Although there was no
path, the chief walked rapidly with a
Sprlhgy bounding step, and it was OK.
trcmcly difficult for the Europeans to
follow him. At the end of this Jungle
flowed mountain stream, beyond
| which stretched the virgin forest COM
| ppoCN vi hiuS,HliICCIlO Cdlll'llol lIccS ana
and numerous others. of kinds unknown
to Mr.. Hancock. The further journey
lay for distance up the course of this
mountain stream, which had to be re-
pcatedly crossed; bnt, although they
had by this time covered a considerable
distance, there were no signs of any in
habltantS. The natives make their
homes at very considerable altitude,
and it was not until the trees became
| thinner that there were any signs of
habitation. At this point the explorers
were made to sit down and wait while
the chief went ahead to announce their
approach. That this precaution was
not Unnecessary may bo gathered from
the fact that the savagcs kill without
tho least scruple all strangers who ap-
pear in their solitudes Tho village
was built on ledge of rock, and the
huts were of the rudcst possible descrip-
ton. 1.-THE door was so small that it
was task to get in; the walls were
composed of the branches stuck into
the ground few inches apart, the in
tersticcs being filled with bits of chop
ped wood; the roof was thatched with
grass. Three sides were occupied by
raised bamboo sleeping platforms, some
10 inches above the ground; there were
no windows" Tho furniture was as
rude as the construction of the hut. a
| fpW ntnOcilv IF fbo ,.n. frhncf o,,l ,,>o,t