Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-03-03
ANTHR0P0PHAGI.
AUSTRALIANS ABORTGINES ARE
LOW IN HUMANITY'S SCALE.
How a White Man Lived Among
Them and Escaped Being Eaten
Manners and Customs of
Strange People.
Z Sto whnt race Of mankind i

seem tnat not even IDe AIetFa ueI ue-
gans nor the Hottentots approach so
nearly to the brute as do the aborigines
of Australia, con monty known as "black
fellows" In the country to which they
are native they have been customarily
hunted like wild beasts by the highly
civilized Invaders and present occupants
OF the soil. Not long ago a scientific
Norwegian, Professor Carl Lnmholtz.
made an expedition into the interio, Of
the island continent for the purpose
Of collecting mammals, birds and insects
OF new species. Penetrating into wilds
which had never been traverjed by any
white man previously be was obliged to
rely for assistance in procuring food and
specimens upon such of the savages as he
could hire. All OF them are profe1sed
cannibals, aud, inasmuct as they arc
hopelessly treacherous, his escape from
death and subsequent cooking at their
hands was little short OF a miracle. In
fact, on more than one occasion they
plotted to kill him, and his life was only
saved by accident. They imagined that
he possessed supernatural power, having
a great dread also Of the revolver which
he carried, and it was supposed by them
that he never slept.
For many months he saw no other
human beings than these black fellows,
who wear no clothing whatever and live
in nearly every respect as monkeys do.
They arc wanderers. having no perml.
nent dwelling and subsisting fromday to.
day on what they can pick up or kill.
They are inveterate beggars, being never
satisfied with what is given them. Giat
itudc IS unknown to them, and they
will betray their beneiac.or for the
smallest induce neat. II is always dan
gerous for the traveller to permit one Of
these savages to walk behind him. A
fallen foe, be it mau, woman or child, is
eaten as the choicest deicacy. They
know such luxury as the flesh Of a black
man, esteeming that OF white person
as very inferior 10 flavor. As is the
rule with all sayages, the women do
pretty nearly all the work, being re-
garded as slaves. They have no domea-
tic animal except the wild dog, or
"dingo.'
Money has no value with the natives.
Knowing no stimulauts they are extrava.
gantly fond of tobacco for smoking.
Professor Lumholtz used tobacco when
among them as moaey, also carrying
with him a stock Of clay pipes. These
primitive people were very much afraid
of his gun and pistol, not even under
stand the use Of bows and arrows. BIt
the professor found it desirable never to
miss hitting a mark in their prs'sacs,
because a failure diminished their re-
spect for him. They had a great veno.
ration for the baby OF the gun, as they
called the revolver, believing that it
never ceased shooting. They looked
upon the scientific explorer as n myster-
ious being, who could travel from land
to land without being eaten, and whose
chief interest lay in utterly useless
things, such as the skins aud bones OF
slain animals.
One Of the first natives whom he en-.
ployed was namel Msngoran. lie
looked "nore like brute than human
being. His mouth extended almost
from oao eat to the other. When he
talked, says the Professor, "he ru55el
his body with complacency, as il TIC
sight Of "a, made his mouth water, and
be gave me an impression that he would
like to devour me on the spot. He al
ways wore smiling face, a mask be.
hind which all these sagAgcs conceal
their treacherous nature Though a
poor hunter, this man wa: regarded with
much respect By his fellows becauss OF
mis- success in procuring human flesh to
,at. To be liberal with the savages was
dangerous, the traveller found,
Ior they assume that gifts arc bestowed
but Of fear. 30 long as they under.
stand that they caa have advantages
rom white mlu they let him live.
They think no more of killing a person
han OF breaking q stick, and the only
hing which will keep them from murder
8 dread Of evil consequence, to then-
ielyes. Tue demands Of Professor Lum-
ioltz's servants increased day by day, !
until finally they insisted that he should I
rive them his weapons aud even the
trousers which be wore.
The black fellows are foad OF decorat.
ing their bodies with gashes cut in
parallel lines across the brels. or the
stomach with a sharp stone Or q clam
hell. To keep the wounds from heal
ng they put charcoal or ashes in then
or mouth or two, until they swell up
nto rough ridges. Sometimes they a..
,ouplish the same result by lettiny ants
walk about in the wounds. Certain or.
laments of this kind are olly adopted
~ a youth after he has come OF age,
Ifter which time he is permitted to elt
whatever he pleases, though previously
le has been obliged to abstain from Ger
ain things, such as eeis and large liz !