, 1889-03-07
CANNIBALS.
A Doctor in the Wilds of
Australia
Among Barbaric Blacks Born
to Treachery.
The Wonderful Baby Gun. Magninc ont
Scenery, with No Ono
to Share It.

Recently a remarkably interesting
lecture was delivered ~ DR.. Carl Luni-
holz of Christiana, Norway. before the
Geographical Society at Chiokering hall.
scientist who, q few years since, conceived
the idea Of penetrating the widest parts
Of Australia in search Of the flora and
fauna Of that country. He has just re-
turned from his explorations, having
passed two years and more among the
least civilized tribes OF men now existing,
and having trod over land and among ma
The most interesting part of his experi-
ences were with the cannibalistic tribes in
the heart of Australia, of which he says.
"Of course could not 60 ut once and
live with them, but had to work my way
gradually. had then been in Australia
more than a year, and of course had ac-
quired some experience as to how to pro-
ssed with them. l now first began to as
sociate with the so-called civilized blacks,
and through them l by degrees became
acquainted with other tribes, until at last
l lived with natives who were in the most
primitive state of life and had never come
in contact with white man. BY civil
lied blacks we generally understand such
OF the natives as have to some degree been
affected by European culture. but the ex.
| tent of the civilization may be briefly
summed up thus-that civilized black
knows that he will be shot dead il he kills
European; that he is greatly addicted to
tobacco and fond of wearing clothes which
he considers more as an ornament than as
| q useful article.
The greatest trouble was TO get the
blacks to take part in my excursions. for
they are born idlers and have fundamental
objections to any kind of work. Luckily,
in the last six or seven months of my stay.
In that region, ! happened to find really
good servant. He stuck to me wherever I
went, 80 that his position from the time of
his advent grew much more favorable.
he was by no means an ordinary black,
but was possessed of peculiar vein OF
naivete. and so he often blurted out ideas
spite Of this he was not at all free from
the treachery characteristic Of all the
blacks. Nevertheless, he was better than
the Others and saved my life many a time.
OF course, | dared not trust myself to him
unreservedly, for all blacks are like chill.
dren, the sport of caprice and the Inspira-
tion OF the moment, and are especially
tunate enough to find, as rule, four or
ave of the blacks willing to 90 with us,
sometimes the whole tribe, with it's wo.
men and children.
'As far as this method was possible, | |
rode alone, while my blacks went ON in
front one of them leading my pack horse.
At the foot Of the mountains camp was
hind, while .he saddles and brides were
placed in tree, so that the wild dogs
could not get at them. Then we went up
the mountain on foot, the dense under
wood there, of course, being impossible
for horses. My provisions consisted of
fourteen or fifteen pieces of OK flesh, pick
eled and dried, with Q small quantity of
wheat -four to be baked into bread in the
hot ashes, and some sugar. When these
provisions were exhausted, which occurred
pretty quickly, we lived, like the aborigi.
mes, on young snakes, lizards. larvn, eggs
and the like. My outfit included large
white woolep blanket that was a standing
wonder and constant envy of the blacks.
As soon as l unpacked it they made click
ing noise, expressive of delight. with their
tongues, and roared out. 'Tamin! tamin!'
they call fat
One of the most important things l
brought with me was tobacco, greater
Joy to the arborigines than the very best
food. At Herbert river the blacks did not
know, before the arrival of the whites of
any stimulants at all. The tobacco served
rue instead of money, and for it they will
Among these people tobacco is always
smoked, never chew. d. and / have often
seen q mother, carrying child on her
back, hand it a pipe, at which the child
would take q couple of puffs with appar-
ent delight. They often used to send in
barter small bits of tobacco wrapped in
gum, to other tribes, and in that way to-
bacco is known among remote tribes. who
have never themselves come into contact
with Europeans.
'Next to tobacco, my revolver was of the
greatest Importance to me. Very luckily
the natives, who do not themselves possess
even bows and arrows. have the greatest
respect for firearms. IL is, however, nee
oessary to keep up your reputation as a good
marksman. else you will soon lose their re-
spect. Their astonishment is equally
great when you hit a kangaroo in rest
ing position, or when you bring down a
bird on the wing. They were especially
afraid of my revolver, which they looked
upon as inexhaustible. made it my
business to keep this fear constantly
| awake, and every night before cresping
into my hut discharged my baby.pun, as
they called it. Just in order to refresh their
minds as to the existence of this dreadful
weapon.
"ln the evenings, just before sunset. we
pitched Unr camp and settled down for the
night. had hut made by the natives
every evening in their ordinary way. The
huts are built in few minutes and con.
Sist of palm leaves stretched across q slight
framework of boughs. They are about
three or focr feet high, and have large
opening on one side. always hsd my
hut made 30 long that could lie down at
full length, but the natives | generally
found lying two or three closely huddled
together in each hut, with their feet pro-
| jecting outside.
Happily for me. felt in the winter
time the cold at night. owing to the great
anti enut x,st kha knat rxf kkA I..rk: