Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-07-16

was announced that no rain would
come until the spirits bad smelled and
tasted human blood.
The chief nodded assent. and the
young men of the tribe treinblingly
formed q circle to be inspected by the
mutt to see if any would answer as to
a sacrifice. Myself and two servants
were inside the circle near the chief
As the mutt passed along the line alb
iect terror and misery were depicted on
the faces of the young men. He came
to the spot where | and my two men
were, hesitated moment, but passed
on, returning, however the next mo-
ment and drawing bis bloody knife
across my shoulder yelled out, "Bas-
sellal bassella" (''the victiml the vic
tim r'), at the same time commanding
four young men who had held the oxen
for the knife, to approach and seize the
sacrifice, that the Great Spirit might
have human blood to drink and breathe
the fragrance of the ascending smoke of
his roasted heart.
Not seeing the matter in the same
light as the mutt, we prepared to de-
fend ourselves. In the present state of
excitement knew it would be of no
use to parley or even attempt to, so as
the servitors approached without mo-
ment's hesitation we fired on them.
Two fell dead, and taking deliberate
aim at the villainous mutt | sent a bull
let crushing through his head, which
sent him to his last account, and be-
fore the people could recover from
their astonishment we took to our heels,
and gaining a large rock placed our
backs against it, determined to sell our
lives as dearly as possible if any further
attempt was made to harm us.
The mutt being dead, a consultation
was held by the chief and his advisers,
who evidently decided not to carry on
a war against man who was powerful
enough to kill a mutt with a small
noise. In parley which followed we
explained to the chief, very plainly,
what the consequences would be to
him and his tribe if we were harmed
when the news reached our friends on
the coast We were not subjected to
any further trouble, the stipulation be
ing that we leave their country at once,
a condition we were not loath to com.
ply with. had my men bring our
horses and rifles to the rock, and re
ceiving an angry goodby from Matokwa
and sundry malignant scowls from the
assembled warriors, we departed at
brisk trot.
After an hours travel Umcobela, one
of my servants, rode up to me and said,
Boss can you make a big warp /
did not understand what he meant by
this, and asked him to explain. He
then told ME that we would be very
likely to receive visit from the Sitan-
tas, the tribe we had just left, and they
would try to avenge the deaths of the
mutt and his servitors whom we had
shot. This piece of information was
far from pleasant as | knew we three
could do but little against the numbers
that would possibly assail us. called
Mphana, and asked him if he thought
we would be pursued, and received a
very depressing reply in the affirmative.
The day was nearly spent, and told
my men we could hide during the night
and possibly escape them the following
day. This they doubted, and proposed
that we go on to the Little Marraba
tribe and ask protection. had been
among these people before and had
rendered them quite a service, and
readily agreed to the proposal, as it
seemed the only way out of the trouble
learned from my servants that the
,wo tribes were not overly friendly to
each other, and this gave me more
hopes of succeeding in getting their
lelp and protection. We rode hard |
Until about in the morning, and found |
ourselves on the outskirts of the Little |
'Iarraba kraal. We entered the village |
md at once paid our respects to the
hief. AS we had neither seen nor
leard anything of the Sitantas, | con-
luded not to say anything to the chief
bout it, but Umcobela said it would |
,e best, and had him tell the story.
'he chief thought some time over what
Ie had heard, and finally spoke; ''You
Tiled the great amanzip
eyes, had to do it to save my own
ife."
'You do not feel any sickness or
lothing moving in your
mo; what do you meanp
Nothing, Boss; it is good Moth
ng can harm you now" and turning
D his men he had long and earnest
ak with them. They began to encir-
le me and gaze on me with wonder
nd curiosity shown in every feature.
asked Umcobela what 1t meant, and
o said the chief and people could
ardly believe | had killed the mutt
nd lived afterward, and that If my
lords we're true nothing could harm
ne, for | was most mighty; equal 10
he spirits. | told him to tel the peo-
le it was true, and that we were anx-
,us for help should the Sitantas follow
s, all of which he did and received
ssurance of their united help. then
'quested food and place TO rest in.
nd was given quarters In the chiefs
at. We ate hearty meal and were
'on sluInbering, for was nearly done
p with fatigue.
Nothing was seen Of the Sitantas that
ly, and ! was congratulating myself
NON ,sf.fffr.a ont ~ a carfcto Ism.,Ik.,