Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23

north of Australia and of the
NJ beaten track of ships is q land of
mystery. Only a few miles back
from the precipitous mountains
rear their heads into the clouds and present
barrier beyond which few have been able to
penetrate. It's people are savage and Nature is
ever waiting beside the trail to maim to drive
mad. to Kill.
There were three of US who were willing to
pay the price in suffering and danger for q
peep at what lay beyond those ranges. Besides
myself there was Richard HUMPHREYS. for 10
years . magistrate and patrol ofacer of the
British administration, and Harry Downing of
Sydney. a photographer in whom the world
War had instilled q love Of adventure that
would not down.
This is but leaf from the book Of our
experiences, the story of black sorcerer and
his puri-puri or so-callsd magic. His name was
A4ira-Oa and he was tall angular, wizen-faced
Old man. who the FIRST time I saw him was in
q furious rage because the police had ignored
his Importance among his people and brought
him along to the government station on Yule
xslAnd 10 act as carrier for along with
more common individuals.
II win not COL win not COL" he screamed
AG we passed along the long line Of semi
savages wedding out the obviously unfit.
Humphries magistrate, could have clapped
him in jail for six months. that being the
penalty for refusing to carry for . government
party Instead ne calmly ignored the fact that
the deerspit sorcerer would be Of no earthly
use to us and signaled the police to herd him
On with the other carriers
II win pay back win pay bAckt" shrflIed
AGira-oa. Il Win make puri-puri against you,
and you'll never come back"
Ills fellows grpped by deadly fear. began TO
voice that fear in dismal howls They knew
that when white man perishes in q savage
country his black retinue seldom survives. and
they believed implicitly that old Mira-Oa could
90 what he threatened.
Humphlies shrugged and turned to the police
Load them up" he ordered He picked out
q canvas tent ny. weighing bat pound or
ewo. and rolled it zap compActly. That 10 for
l9iEa-oa 10 carry he added.
TIE sOrcerer did not submit tsmely Instead
Of picking up the ny he dropped to the
ground screaming and kicked and clawed at
TIRE police. couple Of them expertly smothered
him under their combined weights snapped
hendcuffs upon his wrists Topped him over on
- Stomach and bound the canvas roll to his
shoulders. Then they yanked him to his feet
pto1ded him gently with a bayonet and shep-
herded him down to the canoes that would bear
ns TO the mainland, the other side Of Hall
Sound.
Surprisingly Mira-oa quickly simulated resig-
nation. The handouts were removed after we
had crossed Hall Sound TO the mainland that
might that he might eat, and were not needed
again. Nor was 1t necessary to bear him to
the ground and tie his load to him the next
morning. He picked up the canvas roll Of his
own accord, tucked it under his arm and
h0bbled along In the wake of his fellows without
urging as soon rs the command to move was
given.
We kept eye upon him and what we saw
pazxaed The man, for ali his age and in
nFmlties, seemed not content TO rest when we
called q halt at frequent intervals during the
day. His vitality remarkable He appeared
not to need those FIVE minutes of relaxation we
took every hour Instead Of dropping upon the
ground and INDUCING in netelnut, the chewing
Dehlch reviyeS the black mans waning energy
ne forever poking around on the trail with
= stick. peering under bushes. investigating logs
and Stumps-evidently looking for something
"A poison plant of some kind" hazarded
HnmphFies. ats the logical answer If he has
the idea of killing in the back of his mind"
That Hunlphries was right in believing Mira
Ga woald make attempt against our lives was
proved by the event. The old sorcefer kept
aloof from us. suIlen of face. silent OF tongue
never complaining-as did his feliows-at the
hardsIips Of travelling knee-deep in mud and
water through sage swamps or pushing
gingeriy through Saw-edged grass higher than
our heads. which pFieked and gouged and
siasaed tortured bodies.
We came TO the village Of Oriro Petuna not
far from the Aikafoa River. which the next
day must Cross into a country not exactly
rs set up. We had stripped of our sweat
s0dden garments and spread them the sloping
sides OF the teTit TO dry and were IclIing around
In pajanas when figure doomed up in the
ensranee. It was Mira-Oa.
fsasbada." II was the FIRST ttnse he lad