The Grenada gazette., 1889-04-04
AMONG CANNIBALS.
A Visit to the Most Degraded Race
in the World.
DR.. Carl Lumholx, After Two Years Spent
In Exploring tho widest Parts OF
Australia, Returns to Tell Of
His Adventures.

His Adventures.
Recently remarkably interesting
lecture was delivered by DR.. Carl Lum-
hoL. of Christiana. Norway, before the
Geographical Society at Chickering e
Hall, New York City. Dr. Lumholz is
a young Norwegian scientist who, a
few years since, conceived the idea OF
penetrating the widest parts OF Aus
tralia in search OF fora and fauna of
the country. He has but now returned
from his explorations, having passed
two years and more among the least
civilized tribes of men now existing,
and having trod overland and among
nations never before visited by white
men.
The most interesting part OF his ex-
periences were with the cannibali iStic
tribes in the heart OF Australia OF
whom he says:
"Of course, l could not 60 at once
and live with them, but had to work
my way gradually. l had then been
in Australia more than year and, OF
course. had acquired some experience
as to how to proceed with them. l now
first began to associate with the So
called civilized blacks, and through
them |, by degrees. became acquainted
with other tribes, until at last lived
with natives who were in the most
primitive state of life, and had never
come in contact with a white man. By
civilized blacks we generally under
stand such Of the natives as have. to
some degree, been affected by Euro
pean culture, but the extent of the
civilization may be briefly summed up
thus-that civilized black knows that
he will be shot dead If he kills Euro
pean; that he is greatly addicted to to-
bacco. and fond OF wearing clothes
which he considers more as an orna-
ment 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 fun
damental objection to any kind OF
work. Luckily, in the last six Or
seven months Of my stay in that region
happened to find q really good ser
want. He stuck to me wherever l
went, so that my position from the
time Of his advent grew much more
favorable. He was by no means an
ordinary black. but was possessed Of a
peculiar vein OF naiuete, and 30 he Oft
en- blurted out ideas and information
OF the greatest value. In spite Of this
he was not at all free from the treach-
cry characteristic OF all the blacks.
Nevertheless he was better tn an the
others, and saved my life many time.
OF course | dared not trust myself 10
him unreservedly, for all blacks are
like children, the sport of caprice and
inspiration OF the moment, and are es-
pecially prone to deceit The pair of
us were fortunate enough to find. as n
rule. four or five Of the blacks willing
to 60 with us; sometimes the whole
tribe. with its women and children.
''As far rs this method was possible,
I rode alone, whilst my blacks went on
in front, one OF them leading my pack
horse At the foot Of the mountains Il
camp was pitched. and here the horses
were left behind, whilst the saddles
and brides were placed in a tree so
that the wild dogs could not get at
them. Then we went up the mountain
on foot, the dense underwood there, of
course, being impossible for horses.
My provisions consisted Of fourteen to
fifteen pieces Of OK flesh picked and
dried, with small quantity Of wheat
-four to be baked irto bread in the hot
ashes. and some sugar. When these
provisions were exhausted, which oc-
CURED pretty quickly, We lived. like
the aborigines, on young snakes. liz
ards. larvae. eggs and the like. My
outfit included q large white WOOL
en- blanket that was standing wonder
and constant envy Of the blacks
As soon as l unpacked 1t they made q
clicking noise, expressive of delight.
with their tongues, and roarcd out:
Tamin. taminr Fat, fat!] Any
thing that is very good they call fat '
'One Of the most important things
| b.sught with mo was tobacco, a
grente- JOY to the aborigines than the
very best food. At Herbert river the
blacks did not know. before the ar
rival Of tho whites, OF any stimulants
at all. Tho tobacco served me in
stead OF money. and for 1t they will
do any thing, even TO selling their
wives. Among these people tobacco
Is always smoked, never chewed. and
] have often seen mother, carrying a
child on her back, hand 1t q pipe, at
which the child would take coupe
Of puffs with apparent delight. They
often used 10 send In oarter small bits
II tcbacco, wrapped In gum, 10 other
'-iba& and ID thas Wv tobacco y