Washington sentinel., 1900-01-06
'.> ~ n,, SENTINEL
Among the Head HunteFs OrLushai.
Kld. Ki2rM Magazine.

CachaT, and ManipuTs lies the dis
trict known as the hone of the
head hunting Lushais. Long anC
precipitous ranges of hills. mostly
running north and south, fill up
the whole area, and occasionally a
peak, rising to height Of 5000
feet, may be seen towering above
the lower hills. From it's summit,
stretching as far as the horizon,
gigantic forests OF fern covered
trees laden with creepers, ravines,
deep valleys, and now and then a
tortuous stream winding among
the rocks and verduTe, come into
view. For many generations the
Isushais have had their abode in
this wild region, living on like real
children OF nature. The history Of
the people is a history Of blood
shed and OF internecine war. Every
man, as soon as he could under
stand, became fred with the ambi
tion to obtain human skulls
whether to display as marks Of
heroism before his less courageous
comrades, or to use $ decorations
for his tomb, would be difficult to
determine.
AS little was known OF this blood
thirsty race, we resolved if posi-
BILE to visit them and ascertain what
possibilities there might b. IN
them. If men OF such courage had
their energies directed into an
other channel, we thought they
might become an infinite blessing
to their fellow men. After trying
% enter their country for two or
three years, we at last obtained
permission to live amonP them.
We engaged some native
boats. They are about "a feet
long from PROV to stern, and COW
cred with a roof Of bamboo mat
ting raised about 4 feet from the
bottom to protect US from the
heat or the rain.
Early one morning we were awak-
ened by hearing the boatmen
shout, "Allah! AllahW and as we
peeped out we saw that we had
reached a point where a strong
cataract commenced. he men
were standing up TO their waists IN
the water, and vslnly endeavoriug
to move an inch against the rush
ing torrent. We quickly jumped
into our clothes, and 1t was a case
of "sll hands at the pump" When
climbing such dangerous places,
strong ropes have to be fastened
to the boat, and men Chamber over
the rocks where they can find a
ioothold. and drag it along as best
they can, while others are standing
on the prov and stern, pushing
with oamboos to keep the craft
from beng upset or dashed to
pieces against the boulders. Five
DAYS, SIX days passed, and when
the seventh arrived we began to
enter the mountains. On
another occasion, as we were
slowly moving along, an immense
tiger came within a few yards of
US to the waters edge to drink.
When he had satisfied his thirst he
sat down upon his launches and
looked at US, with as much nom
chalance and composure as we
might have looked at him if he had
been IN a cage at the Z 70.
After seventeen days Of this kind
Of travelling we came in sight of
the first village in Lushailand, and
you may be sure that we hailed
with delight even its chimneyless
habitations. Our destination lay
now only thirteen. miles up the
mountains at an elevation OF about
1000 feet. We were delayed tor
three days at the village ofSairang,
trying to get coolies for our lug
gage. II would require the genius
OF a Dante to describe the awful
experience Of stay in that abom.
Unable place during the rains.
Mountains so surround it that
never a breeze can blow to relieve
the sultry air. Perspiration con-
Stantly pours out over the whols
body, and myriads OF insects are
ever buzzing in the ears or taking
a Vicic US delight in tormenting and
making life almost unbearable.
Then as soon as the sun sets. the
air becomes charged with millions
OF sand flies, a tiny and almost in
visible insect. but which settles
upon every conceivable spot of the
body, burying itself IN the hair and
giving sharp, needle-lIke pricks,
which form into blisters and irri-
tate to the verge Of madness. The
only way TO make existence endur-
able is to burn a kind Of ants nest,
which is found there, and to sit in
the smoke Of it. The sand flies
decidedly object to the odor OF this,
and so do we; but il is preferable
TO being bitten, although our eyes
and noses are necessarily running
from the singing nature Of the
smoke.
At last we left that inferno and
started on our walk up the noun
tains. AS we rose higher and
higher the atmosphere gradually
became cooler, and when we
reached Fort All our destination,
it seemed as if we had been trans
ported TO the regions Of Paradise
when compared with Sairang.
The village chief and his
wife came to receive US with great |
ceremony, bringing with them a
bottle OF their native beer and a
very So 'stantial glass to drink it
from, but we declined with thanks.
By means Of an interpreter we