The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-11-21
NEW GUINEA WARRIORS.
A People who live tn Trees--I -InterestinR
Facts About n singular People.


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One of the most noticeable character
istics of the warriors of New Guinea il
their treacherous mode of attack. One
may enter village and be welcomed
bv crowd of unarmed men who will
show every sign of Friendships; but once
they see their opportunity the
party is dispersed, arms laid down or
some asleep--then Ia second the ma
tives are around and rush to The at-
tack.
Extreme vigilance must at all times
be observed. Then. again. while
marching along the tracks through the
bush country. natives willreadily mark
the approach of the Europeans, They
will watch their opportunity again.
keep some distance ahead Of the adj
vancing troops or move along parallel
tracks In the scrub. and make the most
OF any opportunity of sudden attack,
such as during halt or when the
party has become somewhat dispersed.
The general method of attack in
most parts of New Guinea seems To be
that Of charging up toward the enemy.
and, when within. say twenty To thirty
Yards. throwing their long spears.
Some OF them are wonderfully good
shots and can send their spears through
a dog running awny thirty yards from
them. But spears are not the only
arms.
'Ahl but you will some day be
great man, and have many wivesi"
The FIRST capture made in this pit
WAS also regarded as very singular
matter. The pit was at an elbow in
the path. About ten feet TO the north
Of nil
n ledge rising up live or six feet high.
The path was used by all kinds OF
game. and we felt sure of getting
something the first night Next morn
ing surprise was in store for US.
There was zebra and a Young lion
in the pit, the zebra on top, and both
were dead. The fall had broken the
lions right foreshonlder but his death
had resulted from dozens of sharp cuts
inflicted by the hoofs of the zebra. He.
in turn, had torn the latter almost TO
pieces, and the pit was soaking with
their blood. After looking around
little we figured il out The lion, who
was Just learning To Kill his own game,
had been perehed on the ledge. As the
zebra came along he sprnng, but over
shot the mark aud went into the pit,
where he was followed by his frighten-
ed victim.
In the west Of British New Guinea
bows and arrows are much used. and
are. of course. far more formidable
than the spears. as their range is much
greater and the aim much more ac-
eurate; the natives practice by shoot
ing AZ the nuts in the trees. II Is prob
able that neither spears nor arrows are
ever poisoned IN New Guinea.
Another primitive weapon of offense
which is sometimes used. especially at
the East End. is the sling. A few
stones are carried, often nearly as big
as one's-tist, and these are hurled with
twist of the arm very similar to the
action of ordinary throwing (without
twirliDg the sling round over the head
as is done elsewhere). The natives
seem to vary great deal in their abil-
ity TO sling stones, some being marvel
louslv good, both in accuracy of aim
and in great distance. perhaps 200 to
800 yards; while on the other hand.
many others are very feeble in their
efforts.
The natives of certain districts pos
sess most curious instrument used
more for the capture and slaughter Of
an already vanquished foe than for
dENu0i dANdGh- 1t N0nct1lS VI a rttNhs
three feet long, and on the end Of
which is a piece of cane. bent round
| like the iron of landing net. and of
such a size as to easily slip over a
mans head. On the end of the stick
! is fixed a sharp stake, the point oi
which comes nearly TO the center OF
1 the cane ring. In chasing fleeing
! enemy the warrior holds out his 'nan.
catcher" and puts the cane ring over
! the unfortunate fugitive's head. when
a sudden pull back causes the latter tc
stop short and fall backward upon the
! sharp stake. which runs into his mech
! Just at the base of the skull. aud he !,
instantly killed.
One of the many curiosities to bt
met with in New Guinea are the tire,
] houses. They are used as lookou
! towers, and also for defense. Man,
| villages have house built in on,
of the biggest trees in the vii
lage. connected by a ladder with th'
/ ground.
On the approch of an enemy the in
habitants retire to this refuge. and arr
then not only out of harms way-be
ing above the range of spear-bu
also spears and stones, of which store
is kept, can be hurled down upon theil
enemies from above. These tree house:
are used around the palisades as gal
leries to protect them.
The natives, rs rule. are wonder
fully quick at distributing news. Tier
are many means of signaling and max
ing known various facts. The tom
tom is a favorite instrument. as in al
uncivilized places. Generally it
played when the men are assemblin,
for n warlike purpose, but not always
1t is occasionally used on other occa
sions. Trumpeting on large shells ha
a more significant meaning.
On the approach of danger the weir'
sounds of these horns can be heard 70
miles around, as they are taken u
from village to village. Anothe
elaborate system of signaling is b
watch fires. Sometimes these ar
lighted in rows of two or three, am
many of the hills have their beacon
alight at night. Even the smoke in day
time is said to convey its meaning t
those on the lookout.-7oledo Blade.
Steamboat Made by Negro.