Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-29
BY william Edgar Cell, F. R. O. $.


Copyright 1906 by Church News Association.
Are there any cannibaIs in the world to-
| day, MIR. Geil?'' This question. asked in
manner indicating that the inquirer expect
ed negative answer I have had occasion
to answer hundred times since my return
from exploring the Pigmy forest. Yes, there
are still many man-eating men on this
planet There are not only thousands but
millions of cannibals living beasts and
vegetables when they cannot get vegetables
and human flesh Cannibalsm has been
very materially lessened by the efforts of
the self-denying missionaries, but the field
is not yet entirely won Banquets so ghast-
ly are still the style that one is afraid OF
making readers i'll by simply narrating the
facts. Horrible orgies and barbarian bac-
chanalian feasts with lamentations and devil
dances, and devices so dastardly to out
satan Satan, obtain in no inconsiderable
section of savage lands. have been among
the violent eannibals inland in New Guinea
I have eaten with them and wondered if
they were looking me over and discussing
among themselves whether / would be ten
der and tasty, and what part of me would
be most desirable. Many times have been
at their mercy, did they but know 1t, or
knowing 1t desire to take advantage of the
opportunity. L wish just here to thus pub
lfcly acknowledge my gratitude to Almighty
God for protecting me from multitude of
dangers seen and unseen, for | am fully
persuaded that nothing but the mighty
service of heaven could give me safe con-
duct through the many diverse, but all dan
gerous, savage-infested regions, trayersed
during the five years last past.
This New Guinea article begins with
short birds eye view of the island, and
then, starting at the coast with few trtis-
ty followers, dives into the very thick OF
the dark and dangerous aborigines OF the
largest island on this earth. For New
Guinea is the largest island, counting Aus
tralia as continent New Guinea or Papua
is some 400 miles long. 1t has mountains,
like Victoria, ID 600 feet above the tide and
others cutting the sky at 10000 feet. Much
of this wild. savage land remains unex-
pIored and here is chance for the VEN
turesome American who desires to invade
scientifically an important virgin soil. Some
islands however civilized they may become
can never play an important part In the po-
Utical social or commercial affairs of ma
tons but here all these may and likely Will
transpire Aside from the gold and other
minerals found in the mountains and
streams of New Guinea, there are forests
of valuable timber and soil capable of pro-
ducing enormous returns to the farmer who
plants sugar cane, india rubber, cocoanuts,
sage, tapioca or eucalyptus. 1t Is bound TO
become an attractive center for the Euro
mean in search of wealth, health and an
easy Iife-the three desires OF most people
For the sake of commerce as well as
Christianity the first thing TO do in New
Guinea Is to humanize and civilize the ma
tives and make 1t safe place for explor-
ers prospectors, settlers and merchants not
only TO trade in, but in which to live. There
are difficulties which are peculiar to the
island The absence of large eenters OF pop
ulation is one disadvantage. The Papuan
population of British New Guinea may pc
a million scattered in thin line along
the coast In the back country have traV-
ersed large tracts without meeting inhah-
itants But recently lofty valley has been
discovered which is densely populated ana
I am of the opinion that large numbers of
active violent eannibals will be met by the
explorer when he penetrates into the depths
of the wild country. There Is one village
known to contain 3,ooo souls, and a native