Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-11-21

wooly headed. black skinned
savage the lobes OF whose
ears had been pierced and stretched
until one had torn out. while the other
arried a circular block Of carved woou
three inches In diameter. The torn
ear had been pierced again. but this
time not so ambitiously. for the whole
accommodated no more than q short
clay pipe. The man-horse was greasy
and dirty and naked save for an ex'
ceedingly narrow and dirty !oin clotn'
but the white man clung to him close
" and desperately. At times from
weakness his head dropped and rested
on the woolly pate. at other times ne
lifted his head and stared with swim
ming eyes at the cOcoanut palms that
reeled and swung in the shimmering
heat. He was clad in thin under
shirt and Il strip Of cotton cloth that
wrapped about his waist and descend
ed to his knees. On his head was
battered Stetson. known to the trade
as a "Baden-Powell." About his mid
die was strapped belt. which carried
large calibered automatic pistol ana
several spare clips. loaded and ready
for quick work.
The rear was brought up by black
boy of fourteen or fifteen. who carried
medicine bottles. a pail Of hot water
and various other hospital appurte-
nances. They passed out OF the COM
Mound through small wicker gate.
and went on under the blazing sun.
winding about among new planted CO.
coanuts that threw no shade. There
was not a breath of wind. and the
superheated. stagnant air was heaVy
with pestilence. From the direction
they were going arose wild clamor'
as of lost souls wailing and Of men IN
torment. A long. low shed showed
ahead, grass walled and grass
thatched, and 1t was from here that
the noise proceeded. There were
shrieks and screams. some unmlstak-
ably of grief. others Enthusiastically OF
uncomfortable pain. AS the white man
drew closer he could hear low and
continuous moaning and groaning. he
shuddered at the thought OF entering.
and for a moment was quite certain
that he was going to faint For that
most dreaded of Solomon island
scourges. dysentery. had struck ber
ande plantati ton. and he was all alone
10 cope with 1t. Also. he was afflicted
himself.
By STOPPING close. still on man-back.
he managed to pass through the low
doorway. He took small bottle from
his follower and shifted strong am
monia to Gear his senses for the
ordeal. Then he shouted shut up!'
and the clamor stilled. A raised plat
form of forest slabs. six feet wide
with a slight pitch. extended the full
length of the shed. Alongside OF It
was a yard wide runway. Stretched
on the platform. side by side and
crowded close. lay score OF blacks
That they were low In the order OF
human life was apparent at a glance.
They were maneaters. Their faces
we're asymmetrical. bestial; their
bodies were ugly and apelike. They
wore nose, rings Of clam shell and
turtle shell, and from the ends Of then
noses. which were also pierced. pro-
jected horns Of beads strung on sdn
wire. Their ears were pierced and
distended to accommodate wooden
plugs. and sticks. pipes, and all manner
of barbaric ornaments. Their faces
and bodies were tattooed or SCARED IN
hideous designs. In their sickness
they wore no clothing. not even loin
clouts. though they retained their shell
armlets, ther bead necklaces and their
leather belts. between which and the
skin were thrust naked knives. The
bodies of many were covered with hor'
rible sores. Swarms Of files rose and
settled, or few back and forth In
clouds.
The white man went down the line.
dosing each man with medicine. To
some he gave chlorodyne he was
forced to concentrate with all bis will
in order to remember which Of them
could stand ipecacuanha and which OF
them were constitutionally unable to
retain that powerful drug. One who
lay dead he ordered to be carried out
He spoke In the sharp, peremptory