Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-10
The Dedication of a
Pirate Pr'au.
BY EMILY GRANT HUTCHINCS.


no place even in the middle decades of the nine
teenth century. In point of fact, there isl
ands in the Australasian Sea where all three
forms of vice are still practiced The disgusting
facts rarely come to the ken of the white man, of
whom the native stands in superstitious ave. and
in general the victims are members of hostile
tribes.
How many American and European traders
have persisted in the fendish rites of the savages
we may never know, since dead men tell no tales
1t is only the man who escapes whose testimony
is worth anything. Such man was Michoitz,
man with charmed life, who came out of
score of tight places unscathed. 1t not merely
a matter of luck with him. He knew the people
among whom his expeditions led him, and he re-
spected their prejudices On one of his trips to
the islands in the vicinity of Australia, he came
near having his nerves permanently shattered.
The island in question of the largest
in the group, an island occupied, along the coast;
by friendly, halfcivilized Maoris who had
from New Zealand. The interior still
in the hands OF the aborignes among whom trad
ing was excellent, If one had the daring to under
take it.
Mcholitz went to that island for definite pur-
pose. What he wanted was not to be found aIon"
the coast. There nothing for it but to venture
inland, to take his life in his hands and trust to
providence and his discretion to bring him
safely back to civilization. The captain Of the
trading vessel on which he had taken passage as
sured him that there would be little actual danger
but that his expedition might prove anything but
pleasant. He was not out for holiday and the
warning had only the effect of causing him to
redouble his precautions.
His objective point was the territory surround
ing small lake connected with the bay by
river. The tribe, although belonging to the In
terror of the island, was maritime, devoting much
time to the building of boats and to marauding
along the coast and among the nearby islands
The day of his arrival happened to be one of es
pecial interest. A war-prau was to be launched.
1t was the safest time for visitors to arrive
Micholitz and his escort were met by the chiefs
and dignitares of the tribe and treated to every
courtesy known to the savage
There great feast in progress with much
dancing and monotonous chanting of war hymns
and folk songs. After time the guest of honor
was given permission to wander about and explore
the place. little way up the stream stood
long, low shack of bamboo and palm thatch, con-
nected with the river by ditch. This structure
covered the prau that was to be launched as soon
as the feasting was over.
With a desire to get glimpse of this pirate
boat the man crossed over and began tour OF
investigation seeking opening where he
might enter. AS he turned corner, he came
upon several old men, young women and little
children These squatted on the ground, their
limbs bound and their heads dropping in evident
despair. AS he went farther he became conscious
of dsagreeable odor which seemed to emanate
from the corner of the boat house. When he
reached the second corner, the selfsame odor as
sailed his nostrils. On the ground was purple
STAIN
Curiosity mingled with horror, led him to IN
vestigate. The pool of blood could easily be
traced to its source and that source was the
corner pillar of the building. Parting the palm
leaves, he looked in. For moment he forgot the
blood in his establishment at the savage vessel
that lay before him. He could almost have
the lofty stern-post AS his eyes grew accustomed
to the dim light, he traced the painting on the
stern, a grotesque face with polished shells for
eyes. Putting out hand to steady himself he
touched something and recoiled with cry or
terror
naked human corpse hung pendant from the