The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-30
Copyright 1898 by s, S, Mcclure & Coz

Copyright 1898 by s. s. Mcclure & Coz
Y T must have been within a month
Of my landing in Yamba's country,
in Cambridge Gulf, that l witnessed
nv first cannibal feast. One of the
lighting men had died in our camp,
and after the usual observations had
been taken it was decided that he had
been pointed at and his death brought
about by a member of another tribe liV-
ing some distance away. An expedition
OF some hundreds of warriors was at once
fitted out, and the enemy was apparently
only too ready for the fray, because the
two armies promptly met in an open
plain, and then I had an opportunity of
Witnessing the extraordinary method by
which the Australian blacks wage war.
One of the most redoubtable of our
chiefs stepped forward and explained the
reason for their visit, in comparatively
calm tones. An opposing chief replied to
him. and gradually a heated alteration
arose, the abuse rising on crescendo
scale for ten or fifteen minutes. These
two then retired, and another couple of
champion abusers stepped forward to
discuss" the matter. This kind of thing
went on for a considerable time, the
aDuse being of the most appalling de-
sCriptOn, and directed mainly against the
organs of the enemy's body (heart, liver,
J,
everything that was his. Al length,
when every conceivable thing had been
said that it was possible to say, the war
riors drew near, and at last some one
threw a spear. This, of course, was the
signal for real action, and in a few min
utes the engagement became general |
There was no strategy or tactics OF any |
kind every man fighting sfngle-handed. |
But to return to the battle was de- |
scribing. After a very few minutes hght-
ing the enemy were utterly routed, and |
promptly turned tail and fed from the |
scene of the encounter, leaving behind !
them-after all the uprOar and the flood |
rfors, and these not dead, but only more |
or less badly wounded. quarter being |
neither given nor expected in these bat |
ties, the three PROSTATE blacks We're |
promptly dispatched by the leader of my |
tribe, the coup de grace being given with |
a waddy or knobbed stick. The three |
out OF. spears and grass, and were In due |
time carried into our own camp
A COMING HORROR.
There were so many signs to presage |
what was coming that l knew a canni- |
bal feast was about to take place; but |
for obvious reasons did not protest |
against it, nor nor, did l take as any notice
real work. fell on their knees, and with
their fingers scraped three long trenches
In the sand, each about seven feet long |
and three feet deep. Into each of these
ovens was placed one of the bodies of |
the fallen warriors, and then the trench |
was filed up-first with stones, then with
sand. On top Of all huge fire was
built and maintained with great fierce
ness for about TWO hours. There was
great rejoicing during this period, and ap-
parently much pleasurable anticipation |
among the triumphant blacks. In due !
time the signal was given and the ovens
t th open o ia bo this Bbq PerhaP
the better. With a yell several warriors |
leaped into each trench and stuck spears |
through the big Joint And the mo- |
10 tod NKvlr tQty
out of the trenches the whole tribe lit |
orally fell upon them and tore them limb |
from limb. 1 saw mothers with q leg or
an arm surrounded by plaintiVe children, |
who We're crying for their portion of the |
toothsome dainty.
THE FIRST CANNIBAL FEAST.
Others, who were considered to have
taken more than their share, were like |
wise fallen upon and their Joint sub |
divided and hacked to pieces with knives
made from shells.
A more appalling, more CHASTITY or more
truly sickening spectacle it is impossible
for the mind of man to conceive. A !.
great corroboree was held after the feast, |
but l crept TO my own humpy and tried |
to shut out from my mind the shocking !
inferno l had just been compelled to wit |
ness.
Importance in my life. Elsewhere. / have |
spoken OF my penchant for dugong hunt |
ing Well, one day. this sport effectually |
put an end to all my prospects of reach |
forth one morning, accompanied by my /
ever 1althtul 1amba and the usual ad- |
miring crowd of blacks In a few min
utes we two were speeding over the sun |
lit waters, my only weapon being the |
steel harpoon had brought with me |
from the island. and about forty or f1ftv |
feet OF manila rope. When we were |
some miles from land I noticed a dark |
looking object on the surface of the |
water a little way ahead Feeling GER |
tain 1t was dugong feeding on the we'll |
known grass, l rose and hurled nv har
pooh at it with all the force 1 could mus
the head of a calf whale was thrust
agoniZingly into the air, and not until |
then did realize what manner of crea-
ture it was L had struck. This baby |
sounded" Immediately on receiving my
harpoon. AS 1 had enough rope, or what |
l considered enough, l did not cut him
SadTltI DE came up again presently,
lashlng the water with his tail, and Gre |
ated tremendous uproar, considering his
size. He then darted off madly, dash
ING through the water like an arrow and |
dragging our boat at such a tremendous
ing wash.
Up to this time had no thought Of dan
ger. put JUST as the baby whale halted l
100 coIa aIuna aHa saw to my horror that
spring ana vas swimming round and
round IL nke hgntning, apparently greatly
disturbed by its ssufferings Before I
out of the way the enormous nreett1re
caught sight OF our little craft and bore
down upon 1t like fatr-sized island rush
ing through the sea. l shouted to Yamba,
and we both threw ourselves over the side
Into the now raging waters and com
menced to swim away with long strokes
In order to get as far as possible from the
we knew was at hand. We had not got got
many yards before I heard terrific