Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-11-14
TUGERE PIRATES.
RAvAGES OF wARLIKE DEM.
ZENS OF NEW GUINEA.
they Make Semi Occasional Visits to
the Queensland Islands and Ter
rorize the Inhabitants-Their
Queer Nasal Jewelry.

Boign, are in state of terror
over the Tugere pirates, who
are reported to be making their semi
occasional visit into that territory.
But little is known of these people, and
although investigated by the we'll
known explorer Douglass, scarcely any
definite information is obtainable even
at this late day. From meagre reports
which have been received from time to
time this much is certain, that they are
both warlike and numerous. They
come around the coast from the West
in large canoes without outriggers, be-
fore the northwest wind, and return
with the advent of the southeast. They
are far better warriors than the native
tribes IN the Queensland possessions,
and their arrival has created general
|consternation. Dozens of coast COM
munities are reported to have broken
up and wandered away in small
parties into the forest to wait
for the arrival of the south
east wind, which generally marks
the departure of the Tugeres. These
pirates rarely camp on the same
ground q second time, last season
camping near Kadawa, where Eu
ropean traveller named Martin was
killed by Tugere. 1t appears that
Martin, who was trader, was caught
near their camp while in search of
oddities. The present camp has been
located near the mouth of the Kawa
kussa River, and the length of their
soiourn will depend principally upon
their success in pilla9ing villages. It
has been impossible to determine the
exact number of fighting men of the
Tugeres, but according to Captain
Strachan, who was attacked by them
some years ago, there are not less
than 1900. Captain Strachan was at.
tackled on the Msikussa River. He and
his men fired on them with Winches-
ter rifles at distance ranging from
$50 to 200 yards. In his report the
captain states that it WAS an utter i'm
possibility to intimidate them, and he
was compelled to abandon his vessel.
1t has been about definitely decided
that these pirates come from Dutch
New Guinea.
In view of their depredations, briei
review of the Tugeres will prove of in
terest. As body of men they are as
fine as any tribe 10 be met with in any
of the possessions. In one band on the
Upper Fly River there are men as mus
cular and equally capable in appear
ance but those of the Fugere are fer
the best of the tribe. Many are of a
light brown color. They are armed
exclusively with bows and arrows.
They propel their own canoes, which
are exceedingly clumsy in build, being
from thirty-tive to forty feet long and
without outriggers, and propelled by
means of poles made from the wides.
of the sago palm-leaf. Paddles are
rarely used and are almost unneces-
sary. In appearance the Tugeres
are anything but prepossessing.
They wear the tiara, which
is frizzled, plated into a.
great number of small cords, with a
kind of ledge, each cord falling down
on the neck, and at the lower extremity
the ledge is wound around to form at
the end of each plait little ball This
gives a man an appearance as though
he carried on the sides and back of the
neck bunch of grapes SO large and
heavy as to make it almost difficult to
turn the head. The forehead is high
and well formed, the eyes being hazel
color. In the ears are large rings OF
the wire feathers from the wings of the
cassowary. Their noses are profusely
ornamented. A hole is made in each
from above downward into the nostril,
and into this bone are put bamboo,
bone, ETC., the lower end coming out
of the nostril, SO that the bamboo ie
thus fixed in a perpendicular position.
One man wore in this way two-les
bones of pig. each one fully
three-fourths of an inch in diameter
and about seven inches long. Some
wore bamboos of similar proportions,
others bamboos an inch in diameter
on each side and about two inches long.
Some again had cassowary claws stuck
into these holes with the points directed
toward the eyes. In many cases be-
tween the holes for the reception OF
this nasal jewelry there are on each
side of the ridge of the nose perpendicu-
lar Sits about a half inch long. Many
wear braids, while around the neck
ere sometimes suspended half dozen
p-sta;ls, hts % h1-,&a cesh, probably
of those killed by the wearers, dried
and tanned, or perhaps several strings
of dogs or wallaby's teeth. On the
breast are cross belts of fibre or Jobs
tears, and around the waist are gener-
ally two girdles, one fastened with a
shell that acts as button. On the
arms and legs are rings of plated cane
or mat work. But the most notable of
oil is the fact that none of the Tugerss
are tattooed.-New York Tribune.
Henbano aa an Adulterant