HEAD HUNTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 641, 19 October 1909, Page 8

HEAD HUNTERS.

RUDE SAVAGES STILL IN THE STONE . .'. AGE. '; ■• " -.- . BRITISH EXPLORERS' PERIL!- ■ After two years among tho savages in Dutch New Guinea, Mr.. Pratt,-a British naturalist, and his two sous have, Bays the , "Pall Mall Gazette," returned to Samarang, Java, with strange experiences to tell. Mr. Pratt is a seasoned-explorer'of. fifty-five years; His travels have extended .over wide territories in China,. Thibet, South America, and Asia Minor." ; He had four, years in tho British and Dutch sections of New- Guinea, and then, took a vacation in Great Britain; Two years ago he came out with his two sons and landed. at Doreh, in Geolvink Bay, where missionaries have been stationed for over fifty years. Behind Doreh stretch the Arfak Mountains, with two large'lakes lying at a ■height of■ eight .thousand feet above tne sea'. /There the naturalists took up their quarters, in tho midst of- savage Papuans, whose characteristics they soon discovered were nntrust-. worthiness and thirst for blood. . They were right on' the extreme fringe of the Dutch authority, so had to look after themselves to . tho utmost. . They found the savages, far'below the African natives, without knowledge or understanding of the most elementary virtues—even kindliness or thankfulness. 'They were of good physique'and lived partly; by agriculture, but' their habits were loathsome. • ■■ ■•■■ .-- •■ • • ■

It was' largely due •to his ability -to keep his temper, even under provocation, that Mr. Pratt was able to manage them. They fancied that the traveller must have supernatural powers to control his anger, and 'in addition to that they .were notified by the Dutch' authorities'that any harm to the naturalists would meet with prompt vengeance. :■ ■ ,'■•-. At night - the ■ tent, of" the explorers was guarded-by'a fierce. watchdog, of, which the natives were , much- afraid. In ' the day-time this dog. always remained withthe oneof the party left ongnard, while, the- others explored ■inl'eompany invariably; .".In-:this way they have gathered large collections' of birds, 'insects; plants. "., ■ ■ ■ ■ ■.; ■■', • Their , tent was -pitbhed 'iit nn Exposed 'posi- ■ tion far. from any: native .dwellings, , and' into , those huts they never went , unless , it became necessary, and .then', never alone. For., food they had ' tinned provisions., plantain's! and potatoes, but.so tough wero their constitutions ■that--this, scanty range of diet "did , , not-effect' them. Besides the' climate' , around the.lakes was glorious. ■. ..... .: ■■...' .... \ "; Two thousand,.feet higher up tho mountains it was;bitterly , cold, at' night 6, but the'.natives, could; stand,;it' without any■; clothing., at' all. At night they have ;a process of. providing thomselves with fire. / They carry, on scarcely any. trade, and live mainly _on plantains and potatoes, the latter, having'been. introduced-by. missionaries in 1555. '... .■'■'■■ '-. • '. ,';

, ■ Perpetual warfare is, waged among the tribes, for ,treachery, is constant, and «very'death-leads to blood vengeance:- The naturalists were often goaded to ntrtr the danger point, of shooting, but restrained themselves, and , so-won ..to Eome extent -,the-' cbnfidonoe ■of -the Bavages.. Head hunting :Is:.a -custom.- -of tie , land, and not merely are-.villatre.s, , bnt also ;honf«s,'.at war; against.■hoti6.os, ! .;The reenlt is'that.fear and treachery stalk like twin demons through'the island. .Women, never-.- go out except under nrmed ma.*cnhne guard. They do the work In the-fields with-a man guarding, them witH hi» native -■-'.-,■ . .European and: Chinese traders who'.have-at- *° tr-eat;-the smgeß,-..with their oct falW Jμ* '-V&ifc ■ ?%-- fO J Seance has fallen- swiftly, in;.the night,'. - It, is-, 7™Xf TCr .y Wj»tl« .may mean the approach of.deatVbeanng,tteachwy. .Eypn their warfare taW-SSS?^-■?»"i.-;aiH«'W,to which \ n k n!Lv fftVt' 11 '! hm - th > l trarellere went »t» S-mv o^''?^'-^ 1, "? "'e'mountdn natives are still m: the Stono Age. and had- never - se ?" a ? y European.-: They. live .miseriblv on wild planfe, inseots, and grubs, with an 'occasional wild pig; as a delicacy. '. ■• ■ JUv d f is te nce sighted : the -etanding nroblpm -of-New Guinea-the Snowv Mountaine.' CeTtam/scientists'have-fcoffed'.atUhe' maintaimn., that ;in that latitude%here ■IHoi^"«¥"-^^^'