The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-02-14
WARRIORS OF NEW GUINEA.
The Awful Man-Catcher Used bv.
People Who Live in Trees.

foOple w no Live In Trees.
One of the most noticeable charactc,.
istics of the warriors of New Guinea !,
their treacherous mode of attack. One
may enter village and be welcomed bv
u crowd of unarmed men who will show
every sign of friendship; but once thev
see their opporinnity-oncc the party i,
dispersed, arms laid down or some
a,lccp-thcn in second the natives are
around and rush to the attack
Extreme vigilance must at all times
be observed. Thea, again. while march.
ing along the tracks through the bus,
country. natives will reality mark tn
approach of the Europeans. They viii!
watch their opportunity sgain, kces
some distance ahead OF the adyaucr,
troops or move along parallel tracks i,
the scrub, and make the most of any on
portunity of sudden attack, such as
during halt or when the party ba, be-
come 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 aud 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
Il h.
natives practise by shooting at cocoanuts
in the trees. 1t is probable that neither
spears nor arrows are ever poisoned in
New Guinea.
Another primitive weapon of offence
which is sometimes used, especially at
the East End. is the sling A few stones
are carried, often nearly as big as onet
fist, and these are hurled with twist Of
the arm very similar to the action Of or.
binary throwing without twirling the
sling round over the head as is done else
where). The natives seem to vary great
deal in their ability to throw stones,
some being marvellously 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 possess
a most curious instrument, used more fos
the capture and slaughter Of an already
vanquishcd foe than for actual attack.
1t consists of stick three feet long on
the end of which is piece of cane. bent
round like the iron of landing net, and
of such a size as to easily slip over
mans head. On the end of the stick il
fixed a sharp stake, the point of which
comes nearly to the centre of the cane
ring In chasing a fleeing enemy the
warrior holds out his imam catcher" and
puts the cane ring over the unfortunate
fugitive's head, when 4 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 defence. Many villages have .
house built in one of the biggest trees il
the village, connected by ladder with
the ground.
On the approach of an enemy the In
habitants 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 store u
kept, can be hurled down upon their en-
emies from above. These tree houses are
used around the palisades as galleries to
protect them.
The natives, as rule, are very quick at
distributing news. There are MANI
means of signaling and making knows
various facts. The tom-tom is a favorlte
instrument, as in all uncivilized places
Generally it is played when the men are
assembling for warlike purpose, but
not always. 1t is occasionally used %
other occasions. Trumpeting on large
shells has a more significant meaning.
On the approach of danger, the weird
sounds of these horns can be heard fof
miles around as they are taken up from
village to village. Another elaborate sys
TEN of signaling is by watch fires. Some
! times these are lighted in rows OF twoa
three, and many of the hills have then
beacons alight at night. Even the smoke
in daytime is said to convey its meaning
to those on the lookout.