The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-16

tribe literally fell upon them and tore
them limb from limb. / saw mothers
with leg or an arm surrounded by plain
tive children, who were crying for their
portion of the tootheome 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 APP
palling, more CHASTITY or more truly
s3ckening spectacle it is impossible for
the mind of man to conceive. A great
corroboree was held after the feast,
but 1 crept to my own humpy and tried
to shut out from my mind the shocking
inferno 1 had just been compelled TO wit
ness.
But let us leave so fearful a subject
and consider something more interesting
and amusing. The women of the tribe
lived amicably enough together, as a rule,
but of course they had their differences.
They would quarrel about the merits and
dement's of their own families and coun-
tries; but the greatest soufse of heart
burning and trouble was the importation
of new wife-especially if that wife
CHANGED to be better looking than the
others In such case, woe to the compar-
atively pretty wife. The women certain
Nv naQ q novel way VI SSllbiI6 tilCiA NFA-
ferences. The two combatants would re-
tire to some little distance, armed with
one stick between them. They would
bend forward meekly, whilst the other
dealt her a truly terrific blow between the
shoulders or on the head-not with cane
or a light stick, but a really formidable
club. The blow (Which would be enough
to kin an ordinary white woman would be
born with wonderful forttude, and the ag-
fhp QlIIh tn The
she had just struck.
A Weird Duel.
The latter would then take turn, and
so il would go on, turn and turn about,
until one of the unfortunate stoical crea-
lures fell bleeding and half-senseless to
the earth. The thing was magnificently
simple The woman who kept her senses
longest and remained on her legs to the
end was the victor There was no kind
of ili-feehng after these extraordinary
combats, and the women would even dress
one another's wounds.
/ now come to an event of very great
importance in my life. Elsewhere l have
spoken of my penchant for dugong hunt
ing Well. one day this sport effectually
put an end to ali my prospects of reaching
civilization across the sea. / went forth
one morning, accompanied by my ever
faithful Yamba and the usual admiring
crowd OF blacks In q few minutes we two
we're speeding over the sunlit waters my
only weapon being the steel harpoon l had
brought with me from the island and
about 40 or 50 feet of manila rope When
we were some miles from land noticed
dark-looking object on the surface Of the
water little way ahead. Feeling certain
II was a dugong feeding on the weli-known
rrass. l rose and hurled my harpoon al it
with ali the force l could muster. Next
moment. 10 my amazement, the head of
calf whale was thrust agonizingly into the
air and not until then did / realize what
manner of creature it was l had struck.
rrhis baby whale was about 10 feet long,
ana IL "sotinded" Immediately on receiv-
ING NV harpoon. AS had enough rope, or
what l considered enough, / did not cut
him adrft He came up again presently,
iasbing the water with his tail, and created
a tremendous uproar, considering his size.
He then darted off madly, dashing through
the water like an arrow, and dragging our
boat at such a tremendous pace as almost
10 swamp US in the foaming wash.
Tragedy of the Baby whale.
I'm 10 this time / had no thought OF
danger. but Just as the baby whale halted
7 looked around and saw to my horror
that his colossal mother had joined her on
round il like lightning. apparently greatly
disturbed by IT'S suferngs. Before couid
even cur the line or attempt TO get out OF
the way, the enormous creature caughI