Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-05-03
3y GRaNTAL1fn9


upon our crops and fields. He causes
his sun to shine brightly over us. He
makes our pigs and our slaves bring
forth their increase. Tu-Kila-Kila is
good His people praise him."
the divine mantle of red feathers glow
inc in the sunset on his dusky Shout
ders, and smiled once more that hate
full gracious smile of his. He was
standing near the open door of his
waited hut, overshadowed by the huge
spreading arms of a gigantic banyan-
tree. Through the open door of the
hut it was possible to catch Just a pass
ing glimpse of an awful sight within.
On the beams Of the house, and on the
boughs Of the trees behind it, human
skeletons, half covered with dry flesh,
hung in ghastly array, their skulls
turned downward. They were the
skeletons Of the victims Tu-Kila-Kila,
their prince, had slain and eaten: they
were the trophies of the cannibal man
gods hateful proves.
Tu-Klla-Kila raised his right hand
erect and spoke again. Il am great
god" he said, Slowly. II am very
powerful. I make the sun shine, and
the yam5 to grow. [ am the spirit Of
plants. Without me there would be
nothing for you all to eat or drink in
Boupari. If were to grow old and die,
the sun would fade away in the heavens
overhead; the bread-fruit trees would
wither and cease to bear on earth; all
fruits would come to an end and die at
once; all rivers would stop orthwith
from running"
His wor5hipers bowed down in ac
ouiescence with awe.struck faces. sit
is true" they answered, in the same
slow sing-song of assent as before.
u-Kila-kila, is the greatest Of gods.
We owe to him everything. We hang
upon his favor"
Tu-kila-Kila started back, laughed,
and showed his pearly teeth. They
were beautiful and regular like the
teeth o. tiger, a strong young tiger.
But l need more sacrifices than all
the other gods" he went on, melodi
ously, like one who plays with consum-
mate skill upon some difficult instru-
ment. Il am greedy; [ am thirsty: |
am a hungry god. You must not stint
me. [ claim more human victims than
all the other gods beside. It you want
your crops to grow, and your rivers to
run, the fields to yield you game, and
the sea tish-this is what l ask: give
me victims, victims. That is our com
pact. Tu-kila-Kila calls YOU"
The men bowed down once more and
repeated humbly. 'You shall have
victims as you will, great god; only give
cause not your bright light, the sun, to
grow dark in heaven over US.
'.Cut yourselves Tu-Kila-kila
cried, in a peremptory voice, clapping
his hands thrice. Il am thirsty for
blood. I want your free-will otfering."
AS he spoke, every man, as by q set
ritual took from little skin wallet at
his side sharp fake Of oral-stone,
and drawing it deliberately across his
breast in deep red cash, caused the
blood to flow out freely over his chest
and long grass waist band. Then, hav-
ing done so, they never strOve for mo-
ment to stanch the wound, but let the
red drops fall as they would on to the
dust at their feet, without seeming
even conscious at all of the fact that
they were flowing.
TUX -kila smiled once more. a
CHASTITY self satisfied smile Of unques-
toned power. st is WE'LL" he went on.
My people love me. They know my
strength to wither them up. They
give me their blood to drink freely. So
[ will be merciful to them. [ will
make my sun shine and my rain drop
from heaven. And instead Of taking
all, [ will choose one victim" He
paused. and glanced along their line
significantly.
"Choose. Tu-kila-k . the men an
sWered, without a moments hesitation.
I'VE are all your meat. Choose which
one you will take of us.
Tu-Kila-Kila walked with aleisurely
tread, down the lines and surveyed
the men critically. They were all
drawn up in rows, one behind the
other. according to tribes and families:
and the god walked along each row,
examining them with a curious and
interested eye, as a farmer examines
sheep fit Tor the market. Now and
then. he felta leg or an arm with his
finger and thumb, and hesitated Sec
on1. 1t was an important matter, this
choosing victim. AS he paused, a
close observer might have noted that
each man trembled visibly, while the
gods eye was upon him, and looked af-
ter him a5kance with a terrified side
long gaze as he passed on to his neigh
Dor. But not one savage gave one
overt sign or token or his terror Or MS
reluctance. On the contrary. as Tu-
kila-Kila passed along the line with
lazy, cruel deliberateness, the men
kept chanting aloud without one
tremor in their voices, 1--WE are all
Your meat. Choose which one you
will take of us.
On a sudden, Tu-Kila-kila turned
sharply round, and, darting a rapid
glance toward a row he had already
passed several minutes before, he ex-
claimed, with an air of unexpected in
spiration, ''Tu-kila-Kila has chosen.
He takes MalOa."
The man upon whose shoulder the
god laid his heavy hand as he spoke,
moments hesitation. If anger or fear
was in his heart at all, it could not he
detected in his voice or his features.
He bowed his head with seem