The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-25
SAYS HE RULED CANNIBALS|
R0UGEMoNT,S STRANGE STORY WHICH
HAS INTERESTED ENGLAND.
Invited to Tell his Adventures of Thirty
Years Among Australian snVREes to
BritRin's Great Scientific Society
TaIea Of Greot MineraI wenltb.

u6 NOuktInOnb hulOHk Ll0 bUNhkth VI noTIn-
western Australia appeared recently In TIE
Sun In its London CORRESPONDENCE. His ex-
perlences are alleged to have covered a period
ofnearly thirty years. During that time Rouge
mont became practically King Of a csnnlbal
tribe. He says he escaped from his nomadic
life and reached Melbourne In 1896. He ar
rived in England this year. and on Friday.
Sept. o. told the story Of his adventures and his
return to. civilization at the meeting OF the
British Association for the Advancement Of
Science. at Bristol.
NJ. RouEemont's tale has aroused unusual
interest. II is said that his story has been inves-
tigated by famous ReoRraphers like Kettle and
Mill and found TO have every evidence OF truth.
1t was probably because OF this understanding
that he received an invitation from so staid
and distinguished a body as the British As
ISOLATION. At tho conclusion OF the Bristol
address III. RouRemont was questioned to some
extent. He pleaded WEAKNESS and begged to
be excused after answering some ques-
tions Of minor Importance. One or two
OF the English newspapers have permit
ted expressions OF doubt regarding the
truth OF the narration TO creep into
their columns. but in the main the story has
been credited by the English people a. not only
true but as revealing interesting information
regarding the aborigines OF their great island
colony. Australia. They were inclined to look
askance at some OF the assertions OF tremen-
dous mineral wealth that NJ. RouRemont says
he found. Here Is the story OF his wanderings
as prepared by NJ. R~ouRemont himself:
In the year 1853 1 left home a mere youth
and engaged In a pearl-fshing venture on
board the Dutch schooner Neielland. Our pearl
ing grounds lay between the Australian coast
and Dutch New Guinea. After about ten
months the vessel was wrecked on q small coral
ialan1 uftttafal about 10 laDraau ao,,fl and
125 degrees east. off the northwest coast Of
Australia. I was absolutely alone. save that I
had the Captains dog with me. On this island.
or. rather. sandspit. 1 lived for two years and
underwent much suffering. At the end OF that
time a party OF blacks. who had been blown
out to sea from the Australian main.
were cast upon the island on q native
raft, such as Is used in fishing expe-
ditions. After a further period Of six months
waiting for favorable winds we set out together
in a boat builtf from the wreck OF the schooner.
and l landed with my companions on the coast
OF Australia In the year 966-the exact locality
was Cambridge Gulf. on the northwest coast.
Ofcourse. l made many excursions in various
directions. always with the hope OF reaching
civilization, either overland or by sea. Evil
IDENTIFY. however. I drifted into the centre OF
the continent and only reached civilization In
1895. after an exile OF upward OF thirty years.
When 1 first landed on the Australian main it
may be necessary to bear In mind that l was
absolutely destitute-without clothes. tools or
Instruments OF any kind, except u harpoon, a
stiletto and a steel tomahawk. I had no book
except, q New Testament in the French and
English language; all maps and charts had
been swept away by, the, heavy seas that pre-
whatever: il was therefore impossible for me.
even II ut that time | had. had the wish. TO
make any scientific observations or to record
my WanuprlnRS, For "A time. however did
make notes OH the blank leaves and margins Of
the Testament using blood for ink and a quill
fortunately, lost after my return to civilization
in tho wreck OF the steamer Matura. which was
lost IN TIC strait OF Magellan in the present
When landed on the continent, I believe
my own knowledge Of Australian geography
was very small and vague II | had known
have saved me many terrible Journeys and
years Of suffering; As l have already said, I
landed on the east side of Cambridge Gull. as
nearly as, l can now remember. that is to saw.
Queens Channel, which was the home of my
native companions; who, found their way back
with me from the little islet by steering by tho
stars. For some little. time remained in the
camp OF their tribe, where l was received In u
most friendly way in consequence of the intro
duction and representations of my native wife.
Ihls, woman WAS one OF the family OF blacks
that had been cast upon my iSlet.
When We landed. nearly all the members of
The tribe and many individuals from other
tribes aS SD %er r,a Ga tnhnii TO- T see the first white man
ivy 's"" - y nv A"'S "Nip NV ~ ihSi
surprised. however. at my personal appeurance
as at the form OF my footprints. which differed
nIeeiqlly my boat. This boat. which built on
reached the mainland with the party OF natives.
was. unfortunately. lost In an encounter with II
whale: end with it disappeared my hopes
settlement Of, which i had oftenn heard the
pearlers sneak. Thus l was obliged TO make
wife about October. 1867, intending to travel
due east to the Queensland coast. After six or
coast land diversified ~ isolated hS a hills / and and
then through an elevated and very broken
gion covered with spinifex. where we both suf-
ferred terribly. from thirst, and but for the
skill Of my native wife in finding water and
come through it..
we, soon found that we had come consider
struck due north and eventually reached a
flooded river flowing eastward, which presently
Ropa. entering the Gulf OF Carpentaria. but as
did not know Of the existence Of such a gulf
i believed We had reached the Qucepsland
met for the nearest settlement OF white men.
These natives were the, most savage and hos
sSSIe / ever encountered IN all my, wanderinGs.
warned by my native wife. we retired from our
bush without u fire.. In the morning we would
find our shelter riddled with spears.
we found the land trembling to the west: and
here. at Ranle's Bay probably. we found n Ma:
lay proa.. We landed on the northern coast OF
Melville Island, and afterw had again reached
the coast OF the mainland through Apsley
Strait. We experienced Il terrible storm. which
must have driven us. past Port Darwin. For
whole nights my native wife and / would be-
immersed in the sea, clinging on to the gun
vale Of our lrail craft; At last, about eighteen
Cambridge Gulf region. we one day recognized
certain islands and also the coast, and soon af-
terward We found ourselves. TO my great sur
prise. at the very spot from which we had
started.
The next attempt I made was to the outh-
west, starting after some months Of rest. aud
coasting In the dugout as far as King Sound. /
landed upon and explored many Of the islands
dotted along hat extensive, stretch q coast.
drawings on the rocks. On what was probably
Bigge's Island l POUNDS cairn Of stones. which
/ readily saw must have been the. handiwork
of n white man. We returned to the old camp
overland. crossing the, King Leopold ranges.
which were finely wooded. and appeared 10 be
largely composed OF granite.
We next struck what was probably the Orde
River, which we followed down TO Cambridge
Gull, aud returned, along the coast to our own
lAnp.n nn lNn iNa fnApt Nhta .tnr,a 4 FnlN