Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-07
A MAN EATING TREE.
Experience of an Inquisitive Traveller VINO
---- -.Nentured Too Nemr IL. - =.

believed to grow on the higher slopes of
Mauna Kea, u large extinct volcano situ-
ated on the northern part of Hawaii. l
had II station built on one Of the wooded
slopes of the mountain, far away from
any other habitation My only com
panion was native who had lived al
his life on this part of the island. About
twice a month he would visit the sea-
coast to obtain needful supplies for our
camp This native, who said that his
ancestors were big chiefs" whose bones
lay secretly buried in caves on the
mountain side, was vety old, although
he could climb canons and scale lava
cliffs with wonderful agility.
During one of my botanizing excur-
sions passed by the mouth of narrow
canon or gorge, and l asked Pill, the
old native. If he had ever explored the
same. Pill suddenly became interested
in his pipe and didn't know anything
about the gulch, and diu not understand
what l said. This was rather strange
in Pill, for natives generally know every
rock and tree in the section where they
live, and l knew Pill was lying when he
said he did not understand me.
So, naturally, determined to examin n
into the mysterious ravine. Some time
after this | was walking with Pill down
a gentle slope when | saw number of
bones. Pill stopped. He walked back
few rods and sat down on a stump.
Not word would he say. l began ex-
amining the bones and for two hours or
more puzzled my brain over a problem
as had never done before. What
found was this A circular area of about
100 yards in diameter, thickly COW
cred with the bleached remains Of
birds, animals and human beings.
These CHASTITY relics were scattered
among the shrubs and grass, the larger
bones near the center; in fact, found
that the bones became q radually smaller
as ] approached the periphery of this
circular boneyard. In the center of the
circle was well like opening in the
ground, from which emanated a siei -
ing odor. No vegat"ts.on grew within
fifty fee. u Jnis cavity. How came this
hoie with it's horrible stencil? How
came these bones here? How came they
to bs arranged about the central open
ingp These questions continually pre-
sented themselves, but they remained
unanswerable. A deep mystery seemed
to hang over the spot. 1t was growing
dark. heard Pill calling and hurried
to him. He pointed in terror to the
center of the bone-covered area. A
shadow was thrown on the scene by a
rising bank of clouds. But declare that
l saw rising from the pit a visible
vapor, column of visible fog or smoke
or gas that was luminous. Spellbound,
gazed at the spectral column. Near
the ground it had the appearance of a
phosphorescent flame and gradually be-
came fainter as it assembled. Your i'm
agination will have to picture the un-
| earthly phenomenon. Pill pulled at my
| arm, and in silence we left the spot, and
| we did not loiter by the wayside.
AS | was looking for simple
| plant, and not blood-curdling manifesta-
| lions, l was inclined to break camp and
leave. But by morning my nerves
| were in better order, and l went back
to the scene OF my evenings adventure
| could find no clew to the mystery, and
the matter gradually went out of my
mind as l prosecuted my labors.
| But had occasion after a time to
visit u spot near where I had seen the
| canon about which PHI was so appar-
emily ignorant. One evening l made
| known my intention to Pill to return to
| the place and to explore the gorge.
| .'When?" said Pill.
| ''In the morning,"1 replied.
| Without WORD the old native arose
| from his mat on the floor and departed.
He was gone all night. He returned by
sunrise, bearing on his shoulders bun
! die. When we reached the canon he
stopped and unpacked his load. | saw a
stone idol. curious in shape; he placed
| it on the ground, and then took a small
| pig from his bundle. Making fire, he
sprinllled something in the flames, NUT
tered strange sounds and made symbols
in the air with his fingers. The animal
| Offering was placed before the idol.
After he had completed his
strange rites he said that |
| might never come back, but he
had done what he could to preserve my
life. He would wait until the going
down of the sun, and then, IL did not
come back, he would wall for me as did
his father, long, long. ago, when son
fell i'm battle. Then he sat down, COW
| cred up his head, and was silent.
| Ali this made me feel uncomfortable.
The natives of tho Hawaiian Islands are
supposed to be Christianized, but in the
time of danger or trouble many often
turn to the discarded gods OF their
fathers. | knew Pill believed great
danger awaited anyone who assembled
| the ravine. But [ went. had gone about
a mile when over the tops OF the tree ferns
/ saw a waving mass OF sea green foliage
undulating in the wind. The object
looked like huge bunch of thick leaved
seaweed, and the peculiar motion OF the
| Sdtilo utEcotcu my dttcupioh Who oNCI
800 feet away from the curious object,
and hurried to obtain closer view. A
wall OF fern-covered lava about ten feet
high stopped my course. Climbing up
SO that could just SEQ over the edge, /
saw an OF ject such a. the eye OF civilized
man never before beheld. Imagine q
bunch OF seaweed about twelve feet
high; the edge of each piece lined with
fine streamers, which radiated in al
directions and trembled like fine wire
spirals; the whole object moving like
the fringes Of sea anemone.
/ was wearing heavy felt hat with /
wide brim and pushed IL back from my
forehead to get better view AS
moved my arm the strange object ceaset
quivering and every vibrating antenn,
or streamer pointed directly at me
just then my foot slipped from juttinI
rock on which l was standing and fell
but not before something cleaved th'
air with horrible Kissing noise anS
struck on my hat crown. / felt the fore
of the blow as fell and knew no NOR,
for time. / regaiped consciousness
after short time and lay In "a partia
stupor. The wall above me was strippe
of its verdure, and saw u long. sinewy
suake-like object writhing, twisting an
curling on the rocks II had missed il
prey and low, angry hum filed tn