The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-05-14
AGlC" DZ4A1OND BIGGER THIN THE KOk


VOOOOSSeSoOS1
our ship had sunk and that We de-
sired to 20 to the Government sta
tiVn on tho other side of the range.
IL the men would guide US there, I
said, the Government would give
them any amount Of treasure--salt.
tobacco. knives and t0mahawks, ca
lice cloth.
The interpreter spoke to the others.
They seemed dissatisfied. but they
came out OF the brush into the clear.
ing and we were able to see them.
"Marky." I said. we've got to keep
our eyes skinned; these seem to ,s
Koiroros. and they're among the worst
cannibals In New Guinea Probably
they've never seen white men before
Up hero: It's all UNEMPLOYED country"
DO you suppose We shall be eat?'
asked the Marquis.
Not necessarily. Cannihals aren't
always eating people. We may he
able to make friends and set them 70
guide us."
with . view to this. I collected any
little trifles we could spare-a tim
matchbox, a silk tie. q small psnknife
and offered them 10 the tallest man.
who seemed, by his demeanor, to 10
something Of CHIEF
lie was a splendidly made fellow.
quite naked save for bark waist
cloth, ana all hung over With shell
and dogs tooth ornaments. l lookod
anxiously for any trade beads In his
icWelry, but didn't no any, nor had
any Of the party steel knives or toma-
hawks. They were armed. besides the
apears. with stons-headed clubs and
long daggers made Of human thigh.
bone. 1t seemed plain that they had
had no dealings with civilized men;
and this was so much tho wors"
for ~.
The chief seemed pleased with tho
wifi, and said something to the man
who could speak Mambare. II APP
nm red that he wanted Us to como TO
his villa re, which was oply little
way Off. He said that no would give
ne guides; but ] noticed that he
looked ut the ground as he spoke ana
did not fAcc Us.
1--WE had better co." I told the
Nhs rou,s. "I don't like making friends
~ith natives rs . rule: nine times out
~ ten It's a mistake-but want OF
tucker gives US no choice. Well try
and get carriers there and some yams
to take us on
Tho way proved TO he very much
longer than We expected. but. tired
an we both were. the sight OF ths
village aroused us when 1t cane Into
view. 1t was certainly ono OF the
strangest things I had seen. even In
strange New Guinea.
We were now In the midst Of the
high ranges. and there was no level
where-not 10 much as ono could
use to lay out q tennis ground.
The village crowned the impossible
ity Of the scene. IT was exactly like
a clump Of enormous brown toad
stools, and II was brncketed--one
could not Aay set--onto the sides OF
a needle point peak more ike
houses were mere semlcircular roofs
OF thatch. placed upon bamooo hoors
that were stuck to the mountain BY
piles 10 some incomprehensible fash
ion.
Up tho peak Of this amazing place
We werA guided by the koiroros. who
kept unpleaSantly close about us and
seemed resolved that We should moi
get away from them. A. nothing un-
provided with wings could have yot
away from the mountain men In their
own country, we did not think Of try
ing, even though II began to be un-
pleasantly clear that we were In re-
ality not employers Of these people,
but prisoners.
The Koiroros began to sing as they
approached their homes. chanting
loudly and triumphantly, with an In
describable undertonc OF something
that--as We understand the word
was not human: something that
harked back the ages very near to
them and very far from US.
The Marquis heard It too. Tired a.
he was, be managed to gasp out -
tpSlaA 80, thu Fri Uhfful alma.
"Fiint. n you desire a proof that
this Darwin OF yours bad reason.
listen then--iisten to the Wild beast
bowling over its preys!"
I'VE aren't going to be any prey,
] snapped. being a little cross with
fatigue. And anyhow. the loss you
talk. tho better. They can guess .
lot from ones tone"
But ] must say. when We got Into
the village itself. onto the slope that
seemed to take the place Of Its Plaza,
or Place Royaie. or Inter den Linden.
l began to feel that We were In u
tighter place than 7 had thought. For
! saw something that had not quite
expected TO see.
Dug out In the side OF the hill and
lined with neatly fitted stones were
certain long. coffin-like holes that l
knew at once for stone ovens OF the
main range people. They seemed to
be nearly six fect In length. Now
there Is only one KIDD of game that
needs a stone oven six feet long to
bake IL in-man.
That Is why I was not too we'll
pleased TO ind that we had got into
the stone Ovea country without ex-
pecting II. ! wondered II We should
ever get out again. trusted q good
deal to our revolvers: firearms Will
60 far among men who have never
seen thcm-but the mountain tribes
are good fighters. for Papuans. and
] did not anticipate that II would
be easy to get away. II We had occa-
sion to try II.
The led us into the largest house
OF the village. q ramshackle shanty
OF a place. with spears and shields
bunr up ON the walls and bamboo