Morris tribune., 1904-12-10

tice among the Papuans-th is to say,
all tribes do not deliberately practice
it-but all Of them do enjoy human
feast after a man has been killed in a
fight or for reason murdered. While
MI. Pratt was encamped at Mount Ke
bea he received one morning an un-
pleasant surprise. 1t is the custom Of
the natives who live upon the noun
tain ridges to shout the news to each
other. On this occasion the natives of
the village on an opposite hilltop
shouted over to Mr.. Pratt's party that
they had killed and eaten the brother
Of one Of his most trusted and faithful
hunters.
Immediately there was great excite
ment in his camp, for the vendetta is
practiced among these people. A life
for life is tleir cry, although persons
In other parts of the world who echo
the cry make claims to civilization.
The brother OF the murdered man sum-
moned all the other villagers and then
went to MI. Pratt with demand for
guns to shoot the enemy. This demand
was refused, and the village was noisy
and excited all day on account of the
refusal.
There was reason to believe that
long war between the tribes would fol-
low, when the third day an emissary
from the tribe that had eaten one of MI.
Pratt's servants arrived on a mission
Of peace. They seemed to fear that
perhaps they had been wrong and
wanted to make reparation. Repara-
ton was figured out to be one pig fol-
the man who was slain and eaten.
This magnificent offer was accepted By
the brother of the victim and by the
villagers. So the pig was brought, was
killed, roasted and eaten at a great
feast, and the incident was closed.
Another experience with the canni-
balls fell to the lot Of Mr.. Pratt's son, a
youth OF eighteen. He had sent to a
distant part of the island to get sup
plies. He had learned the language
and knew the habits Of the people, but
his route day through hostile region.
On his way out he experienced no diff
6culty, but on the return journey he
and his party were stopped by the hos
tile tribe with a demand for one of
their boys to be killed and eaten. This
came about through report which
had reached them that one Of the hos
tile tribe had been killed. Consequent
~ they would not feel satisfied until
they had Toasted off a member of the
tribe which had caused his death.
1t was crucial test for youngster
Of eighteen to undergo; but, being well
young Pratt parleyed with the
man eaters and persuaded them to
abandon their demand. Early next
he and his party slipped quiet
ly away.
The Motu-Motu, who inhabit Hoods
bay, are known as the piebald tribe
owing to the peculiar marks upon their
bodies. They are one of the mysteries
Of New Guinea, and their houses, |
which are built upon an open wooden |
are just as curious as they |
are They use slanting pole as a
anu SOlue VI Tie houses even
have ladders for the dogs to use.
AS with some savage people, the wo
men are the hewers of wood and draw |
ers of water. They are the burden
bearers, often carrying loads weighing
ng as much as fifty pounds. They are,
however, treated with great considera-
ion by the men, whose duty it is to
guard and protect the women and to
10 the hunting and fishing necessary
o keep the family larder properly
stocked. The chief substance Of the
Papuans apart from game and of
course an occasional enemy are yams,
aros and bananas. These are usually
,rown some little distance from the
'illages. The ground is titled by the
'oung women. who are secured against
ttack by guard Of young warriors.
The costume Of brave is usually con-