Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-12-20

I tlSO 10 prevent Tue dlIdChS Ia VIII
animals, such al elephants and rhi
noceroses, reptiles and the sudden in
vasion by rival tribes of head-hunters
| Zach village contains one house. ant
| zach house shelters from 20 to 30t
3rown-skinned natives. Throughout
| the length of the long house is mar
row hallway with crudely constructed
doors leading to the various rooms
Each family occupies one room. DC
! casicnally one will find a larger vii
lage having three such houses. which
may contain as many as a Thousand
natives; but these are rare. A pole
in which notches had been cut. served
as a ladder, reaching to the house
| The supporting beams and the main
doors we're magnificently carved
showing that even with their roughly
made blades these animal-like natives
who had never known the influence OF
civilization, were master artizans.
AS we approached the house the ma.
tives came swarming out in numbers,
md while they paid little or no at,
tention to my brown-skinned escorts,
they gazed at me in utter wonder.
ment As to whether the natives or
myself had the greater misgfvings I
am unable to say. My sensations were
|indescribable.; Here was, in the heart
'of Borneo, surrounded by horde, of
strange. brown-skinned men, leading
animal-like existences and whose chief
diversion seemed to be proving them
selves brave warriors by chopping off
the heads of rival tribesmen and
passing them down to posterity as
trophies of their vaIor. knew that
they had never seen a man Of white
skin before, and whether they would
make a sudden dash to claim the
honor of my head was a matter that
gave me some little concern. -.
Soon was being examined from
head to foot by the entire band. They
ran their fingers through my hair, for
It is light and somewhat wavy, while
theirs was straight and black; they
seemed to take particular delight in
feeling of the white skin Of my face,
and could not believe 1t was real.
They felt of my ears and nose, OF my
arms, hands and fingers, my legs. and
even my shoes, the significance or
which was beyond their grasp.
For moment consultation was
held among themselves and somehow
Y felt nv fate lay in the balance.
Then, with their tribal nominations,
they began glavishing upon me pres.
snts of many kinds-rice, fruit and
even chickens, which are both
scrawny and rare, their use being re.
served for strictly ceremonial occa-
sions. Then I learned that I was q
god who had come into their midst on
the propitious mission of increasing
their crops and healing their Sick,
that, at least, was the conclusion OF
the natives. and as the verdict was
somewhat better than that of decapi-
tatiun. I accepted 1t gladly and en-
tered uDon my duties and dignity as
a divinity.
AS a libation fitting to what they
considered a sacred parsonage, the
sayages brewed a special LIQUOR made
OF rice and called Harrak." This drink
is INDUCED in only on extraordinary
occasions. Mr.. Streeter found the
concoction sweet, thick, and coloriess,
with flavor somewhat like 'Benedlc-
tine,"' and not notwithstanding. he
gave them little trinkets. which
strengthened their belief that he had
supernatural powers. They carried
their sick to him and begged him to
heal them. To continue: ..z.:5.' Z
In my edicine-chest had a large
quantity of Quinine, alcohol, fever pills
and antiseptic solutions, and these i
found of Invaluable worth. Loath-
some disease, not unlike leprosy, was
the scourge Of the interior, and three.
fourths of the population from chill
dren to aged people, were afflicted
with it. Though novice at medt-
cine, / treated as many as fifty ma
tives day, and over a thousand dur
ing my entire stay. Malaria and kin
ired ailments, caused by mosquitoes,
centipedes, and various insects, had
caused much sickness among these
natives, over. 200 miles in the interior,
and my medicines were constantly in
demand. Quinine, despite it's bitter
flavor, the natives ate like candy. The
white mans medicine" they called
it, and so great was their fondness
for it that even the well would fefgn
illness to obtain it. Observing that
/ used alcohol without evidencing
pain after being tattooed, they attri-
buted it to magic powers and begged
that a little be applied to their arms.
Their religion seemed to be vague
one. observed a few totem-poles,
but these were apparently offered for
a propitious rice crop. For their dead
the greatest respect is shown, and
they speak of their departed reveren-
TALLY, and in hushed tones. They
care tenderly for their sick, and aft
er death the remains are placed in
collins, handsomely carved and dec
Grated on the top of trees.
Marriage is a festive occasion, in
which all join merrily. After short
trial union, if the contracting parties
agree, they go through a peculiar ma
tive rite, and the couple continue to
live together, seemingly happy, until
death. Loin clothes form the only ar
ticle of wearing-apparel used by the
natives, who are, believe, more mo-
dest and moral than many civilized
naoDlo in uotronolitan centerS Their