Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-17
NOTIONS OF SAVAGES.
SOME STRANGE BELIEFS OF THE SIM
PIE CHILDREN OF EARTH.

Darwinism Anticipated by Tribes of A.
rica-Curious Ideas Concerning White
People-What Savages Thought of tho
Clothing of Observation-Disclosures.
Savage beliefs regarding cosmogony, geog-
raphy and the kindred sciences are so numer-
Gus that volume would not contain them,
and may be passed by, although some Of them
are exceedingly strange and interesting OF
greater interest to most readers are their no.
tions about mankind, dress, domestic animals,
furniture, etc, a few of which will illustrate
the character of the larger number that might
be given.
The first time natives of the province Of
Victoria, in Australia, saw an OK grazing, the
whole tribe turned out TO watch him, and the
most daring warriors begged him to give
them the huge horns be wore Many savages
call the game by name in hunting, just as
herdsman calls his cows. Tupinamba women
in Brazil go to the ant hills and call the ants
out, promising them nuts, while those of New
South Wales beg the fish to be caught. In the
cabins of Canada Indians there was an indi-
vidual especially charged with this duty.
Bolivian Yuracaries would not feed corn
to their fowls, saying that as they could not
raise it they ought not to have it. Many
tribes of Africa, Paraguay and Central
America anticipated Darwinism in their be-
lief that monkeys were formerly men who
have lost the art of speech because they are
not made to labor.
1t is difficult for us to understand the be-
lief held by many savages that they are the
sole inhabitants of the earth. Comanches,
Caribs, New Guinea tribes and Marquesans
had no idea that there were any other people
on earth besides their own, and similar ideas
were entertained by Rocky Mountain tribes,
Orinoco Indians, Australian aborigines, Ma
rianne Islanders and natives of Tasmania
Forty years since natives of the Marauesas
Islands professed like ignorance of any ill.,
habitants upon the earth outside their own
island.
Many Of the natives of the West India and
South Sea Islands and Indian tribes of North
and South America thought that the first
white people they saw came from heaven.
Esquimaux believed that the first ship arriv-
ing on their coast came from the sun or the
moon, from which latter planet came the
crew. A Senegal tribe, as well as the Cards,
maintained that the white people came from
the sea, and that ships were their only hab-
itations
Some negroes on the eastern frontier Of
Congo were greatly astonished at finding oil
the white persons wearing clothing, not I'M
agining how they could procure so great
quantity. So pleased were the simple ma
tives of a country to the south of Sahara
with buttons that Park was kept some time
buttoning and unbuttoning his coat. to show
the use Of these attachments. The king OF
Bondo and his officers greatly admired an
umbrella, and were some time in learning
how to use q machine so marvellous. and New
Zealanders were equally impressed with one,
delighting to open and close it, The inhab-
itants of an island in the east believed that
the man, his clothes and his shoes were of
one piece. and were only convinced Of the
contrary by close examination. A Senegal
tribe was convinced that this must be the
case with the missionaries
Some women on the borders of the Great
Sahara thought the Able Poiret had q green
skin because he wore gloves Of that hue, and
Others in a noInadic tribe of Morocco were
very much frightened at seeing Drummond
Hay pull of his gloves. Tasmauians were
very much surprised 70 see a traveller do the
same. African Laus thought the boots were
a part of the natural body, and wondered
much that they should be dark while the faces
were white. Another African tribe thought
that missionary was detachins has fest
when removing the shoes, and that his black
were detachable part Of a double
skin with which he was provided The Uaza-
ramos Of Africa thought that another, VINO
wore glasses, had four eyes, one pair of which
were detachable. Some New ZeaIanders
were persuaded that wig was but the skin
Of the head, and that its removal was accom-
plisned by magic. Hawaiisns thought Cooks
officers were horned because they wore three
cornered cbapeaux, and believed that thciT
pockets were entrances 10 great natural res
ervoirs Of treasures within their tosii,s
Guinea negroes, Tahitians and trih.s OF |
The New Britain archipelago, believed that
10th, arms, hatchets mirrors and other Oh !
lects Of the kind were fruits OF the earth, and |
Tahi.ians sowed nails TO raise crop, while |
CARTS planted guupowder In the ground, |
With similar expectation
Several Austr allan tribes as well a. natives i
n New South Wales and Mexicans. thought /
he horse and rider insepa7abIs, and wer. sx-
,eedingly sstolisbed TO ssc the human part /
If the Centsu descend from his perch. /
south Sea islanders though: tie frst korsc 4
brought On sDore WINS pig. 20 which Latter /
.nirrlai they were accusto.Ded
Ka,nschatkans thought all animals under /
TODD their language, and addressed 70 them /
most sAtterfng words Yscuts u Siberia call /
b bear lord, iliustxiocs old nan, good father,
IND beg q hin hunbiy .he permission 70 con-
inu. their journey. The tiger is nsr.ed lord
II grandfather by CANDIDA tribes, ard The
Anaauaite cali hin tir Tiger, ard address
'rayers % kin- Philippine islanders b<s the
Tocotiles DIT 70 do then any harr., While
inhabitants of one Of toe ny txlaoos :nsak
he SHARK viii noe attack tae<a II ehey Cal
~, Il an from Co.og,anAH ttoe1r vlis-eg.
Negroes usually tEinE wine lie blood, On I
lrss sss;nS f. Sozne Esqziraazx tsoxStt
,ssczIit dr1ed sab nesaL Wen Canscian
nciaLs saw white nea, far toe crse tsaa.
at bread and drink wine they thought feen
wood and blood Oos AfrscAn ;r3te 10 Coo
'incet that rivers Ct ruz Gov OF tie Erso-
ean soil Hsszsoaerses enumerated rcn -
&c II the blessings Of pAr.t.se &c rs veza,
Madagascar rrtoe.-F. e E&zse.t
70 rsosve H-nsfrom an ircs PCT vska u