Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-01
ON BOARD OF A SHIP
A SACRIFICE MADE ON A BRITISH
STEAMER.

The Very Extraordinary Rites of Malay
sailors-A Heather Diety is Worshiped
Under the Isritish FIag-The Decks
DIood-sprinlIsd.
On the deck OF a British steamer
the City of Dublin-and beneath the
shadow of the Union Jack which
waved in the breeze from her mizzen-
mast there were enacted recently GER
emonies the most strange and weird
ever witnessed in this port.
Had the crew been Americans, Eng
lishmen or of any other civilized ma
tionality the strange proceedings
would have rendered the participants
fit candidates for lunatic asylum. but
as the entire company. with the ex-
ception of four men. are full fedged
Malays and Lascars from the Malayan
archipelago. the performance excited
only the most unbounded establishment
not unmixed with fear on the part of
those who witnessed it.
1t is rather singular that there
tai race represented on the City or
Dublin. Vessels have reached this
port before carrying six or sometimes
a dozen who had been shipped in far
off ports to fiji up the ranks of the
former crew depleted by sickness or
death, but probably never before has a
captain visited this port before the ar
~ ~ zfofn ~ he ~
Dublin. who evidently preferred these
yellow skinned individuals to his own
countrymen,
He shipped the odd assortment on
the voyage out from London to Peka-
longeau, of which the present voyage
is the conclusion. at Port Said and
Alden, Arabia. He intended getting rid
OF them at Colombo. Ceylon, but they
proved themselves such good men that
he engaged more until nearly all the
original members of the crew were dis
charged.
The City of Dublin came up the riv-
er and dropped anchor in the stream
of Spreckels' refinery. She was board
ed by the inspector Everything was
all right about the manifests, and Cap
tain Rae was told that he could tie
up to pier 81. when he was ready.
IT won't be able to go into berth
tonight" he replied There will be
a high old time on board the vessel
before she reaches the pier unless
am greatly mistaken"
The next morning there was quite
o respectable crowd gathered on the
quarterback of the City of Dublin.
According to the dictates of their
religion" said Captain Rae to Times
reporter, they are about to celebrate
their arrival in port by a ceremony
which is probably the most remark
able you have ever heard Of"
The crew assembled forward. A
circle was formed, in the centre OF
which appeared a weird figure. He
was the priest, q character whose alb
sence has never yet been noticed from
gathering of these singular people.
"They brought him all the way over
ut their own expense" said Captain
Rae, and he has had an easy BERTH
Unless l am in error he will now play
the part OIL DuIcner.
A dramatic scene vas then enacted
The bleating of a sheep was heard,
and two swarthy Lascars broke into
the circle where stood the priest,
dragging after them the terrified ami
NAL At the same moment the crew
broke into curious chant or recita-
tive, while the priest threw the strug-
Cling animal to the deck, placing his
foot firmly upon his head. The next
instant he had buried the knife into
the heart of the unfortunate beast, and
with incredible swiftness tore the or
gan from the body.
The crowd of devotees then pros
trated themselves on the deck and
were sprinkled with blood from the
dripping morsels which were cut on
by the priest. In conclusion he raised
the heart three times above his head
and hurled it into the water. The
body of the sheep then followed suit
About half an hour afterward when
the decks of the City Of Dublin were
riice, the participants sat down to the
first meal they had eaten since enter
ing the capes forty-eight hours before.
The evening sunlight was streaming
through portfolio when Captain Rae
and a reporter entered the forecastle
to observe the men at their mess. The
shadow of the captain at that moment
fell across the table. With a volley of
Singalese oaths all that portion OF
food which had been touched by the.
shadow went flying into the sea, hurl-
ed by the indignant hands of the Ma
lays, who saw contamination even In
that contact with a Christian.
Captain Rae has no fear of his
strange crew, although he is almost
alone on the vessel. Il have never had
any trouble with them" he said, and
regard them as good, tractable sailors.
] never interfere with their religion,
and they apparently respect me for it.
Philadelphia Times.