Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-07-15
Head Hunters of samoa.

1t is stated ON the authority OF ADJ
miral Kautz, of the United States navy
that the head hunting custom among
the Samoans Is an old one. The Sam
oan first cuts off the head of his dead
or captured enemy. Then he carries
1t around in triumph, dances round it
and holds a-feast in honor of it. After
this he prepares it with skill and care
at his leisure in order to preserve it
permanently as an article of domestic
decoration and an heirloom in his fam
lily.
He stuffs the neck with hot stones,
and repeats the process several times
day for three days. The stones are
not hot enough to roast the flesh. The
process has the effect of drying the
head very effectively aud of preserving
it. The flesh assumes leathery APP
pearance. After the process is COM
plete, the head will last for an indefi-
mite period-almost as long as piece
OF old leather.
The Samoan takes the preserved head
and puts 1t in network bag with very
large meshes. Through this the dried
and grinning features may be observ-
ed, and it need hardly be said that
they present very awful appearance.
The netting is red. which heightens the
effect, The Samoan hangs this tro-
ply in his principal living room in
order to remind his children how VAL
orous and fearful man he is.
Head hunting flourishes in many OF
the Pacific Islands, and to a fearful
extent in those islands which fringe
the eastern coast of Asia. The Phil
Toll 10. Il ~ a
to it, and the Dyaks OF Borneo excel
all other races in the persistency and
frequency with which they collect their
grewsome trophies.
To the credit of the Dyaks 1t Is said
that they prefer Dyak heads. Among
the Ilongotes. on the other hand, an
intending bridegroom has to bring his
bride certain number of human heads
preferably Christians.
Among the Dyaks heads are in de-
mand to place under the posts at the
foundation OF a house as gift to a
dead man, or to ornament the hall OF
a chiefs house. None but a successful
head hunter is entitled to the honor
OF being tattooed. Skulls are used for
drinking cups while the teeth and hair
serve for the adornment of the body
and weapons.
The Dyak head hunter when he goes
hunting takes a large basket with him.
in which to place his trophies. He
slines this over his shoulder like a
fishing basket. and throws heads into Il
with as little emotion as German fish
erman would put a porgy in his basket.
These reeeptacles are made OF shells
and wicker work, and are often very
handsome.
Head hunting among the Dyaks, al
though 1t originally proceeded from
religious and political motives, soon ex-
tended the circle OF its victims. and the
desire of possessing skulls became a
passion. Every neighboring village
was looked upon as hostile, and the
heads of sleeping men were cut of.
The Dyaks prepare for head hunting
by religious conservation. They build
themselves a hut with a roof on four
posts, and the floor raised yard high.
The entrance Is barred with coils OF
rattan, which are hung with red flow
ers, young palm leaves and a quantity
of little wooden images OF swords,
shields, spears flying, hornbills and the
like.
Inside the hut are spears, blow guns,
quivers with freshly poisoned arrows,
shields, swords and cuirasses enough
TO equip band Of head hunters. In
this hut the company stays for a period
OF four to six days, according to the
onens. Before they leave 1t they hide
in the ground a number OF rudely
carved figures equal in number to
themselves, In order to appease the
evil spirits.
No man who does not belong to the
band is allowed to approach the balei
hut under pain of death.