The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-17
TREACHEROUS SAVAGES
The Awful Man-Killer Used by
People Who Live in Trees.

One of the most noticeable characters
tics of the warriors of New Guinea is
their treacherous mode Of attack. One
may enter village and be welcomed by
crowd Of uuarmed men who will show
every sign of friendship; but once they see
their Opportuuity-once the party is dis
persed arms laid down or some asleep
then in a second the natives are around and
rush to the attack.
Extreme vigilance must at all times be
observed. Then, again, while march
ing along the tracks through the bush
country, natives will readily mark the
approach of the Europeans. They will
watch their opportunity again, keep
some distance ahead Of the advancing
troops or move along parallel tracks in the
scrub and make the most of any oppOr-
tunity of sudden attack, such as during a
halt OF when the party mas become some
what 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, throw
ing their long spears. Some of them are
wonderfully good shots, and can send their
spears through dog running away thirty
yards from them. But spears are not the
only arms.
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-
curate; the native practice by shooting at
c0coanuts in the trees 1t is probable that
neither spears nor arrows are ever poisoned
in New Guinea.
Another primitive weapon of effenss
which is sometimes used, especially at the
East End, is the sling. A few stones
are carried, often nearly as big as ones
fist, and these are hurled with a twist of
the arm very similar to the action of
ordinary throwing (without twirling the
sling round over the head as is done
elSeWhere). The natives seem to vary d
great deal in their ability to sling stones,
some being marvelOusly good, both in ae-
curacy of aim and in great distance, per-
haps 200 to 800 yards, while, on the other
hand, many others are very feeble in their
efforts.
The natives of certain districts possess a
most curious instrument, used more for the
capture and slaughter of an already van
pushed foe than for actual attack. 1t con-
sists of a stick three feet long, Gu the end
of which is a piece of cane bent round like
the iron OF landing net, and OF such siZs
as to easily slip over mans head. On the
end of the stick is fixed a sharp stake,
the point Of which comes nearly to the CEN
ter OF the cane ring. In chasing fleeing
enemy the warrior holds out his man
catcher" aud puts the cane ring over the
unfortunate fugitiye's head, when a Sudden
pull back causes the latter TO stop short and
fall backward upon the sharp stake, which
runs into his neck just at the base OF the
skull, and he is instantly killed.
One of the many curiosities to be met
with in New Guinea are the tree houses.
They are used as lookout towers, and also
for defense. Many villages have house
built in one of the biggest trees in the
village, connected by a ladder with the
ground.
On the approach of an enemy the inhabit-
ants retire to this refuge and are then not
only out of harms way, being above the
range of spear, but also spears and stones,
of which a store Is kept, can be hurled down
upon their enemies from above. These tree
houses are used around the palisades as
galleries to protect them.
The natives, as rule, are wonderfully
quick at distributing news. There are
many means of signaling and making
known various facts. The tOm-tom is
favorlte instrument. Generally it is played
when the men are assembling for a war-like
purpose, but not always. II is occasionally
used on other occasions. TrumpeIing on
large shells has more significant meaning.
On the approach of danger, the weird
sounds of these horns can be heard for
miles around as they are taken up from
village to village Another elaborate sYs-
tenn of signaling is by watch-ires.
Sometimes these are lighted in rows of two
or three, and many of the hills have their
beacons alight at night. Even the smoke
in the daytime is said to convey its meat
ing to those on the lookout