SECRETS OF THE "LOST WORLD.”

Dunstan Times, Issue 3334, 16 August 1926, Page 7

SECRETS OF THE "LOST WORLD.”

r.Ai'LUltJiltb Livit ON MONKEYS

ANjD an its

JJr U illiam Montgomery McGovern, the liiuwus expiorer, with one leilowcountryman, a. naiuliui ot Brazilians, aim twenty or tJnny Indians, Pave iHjen pursuing tor twelve montiis u romantic and uaraig expedition through ine unknown upper ieacli.es 01 tne Amazon —cue “Most Worm" of Sir A. Conan Hoyle’s tale. Tiiey lived on monkey and red ants, met many hostile tribes, beat oil two attacks, laced danger and death iroin cataracts, wild animals, and poisoned insects. Now Hr McGovern has returned to ted his entrancing story. ine expedition, he explained to a Daily express representative, was divided into two parts. Altogether ii passed completely Iron; the Atlantic to the Pacino, and in the second part ilie explorers excavated remarkable rums oi the Inca civilisation in the tablelands of Iho Andes, where they lou ml material for prolonged scientific investigation. They found also a large number of zoological specimens of groat interest, including a number ot now species, especially of birds.

Dr idcGovern told a fascinating story of bis adventures among the Indian tribes of the Botova stock—the Walks nos, the Mosquito Indians, and others with customs as strange as their names.

The party penetrated through more than 1,000 miles of their territory, ascending the Rio Negro by large rowboats until a cataract was reached, disembarking ami transporting their boats to clear water. Beyond every cataract a more and more primitive tribe of Indians was found in a constant series of steps up to the Andes. Dr McGovern comes back with the surprising view that these wild tribes maintain virtually the highest morality to be found anywhere in the world. Crime within the tribe is unknown, although at the same time corporal, not to mention capital, punishment is also unknown. Chiefs maintain their authority merely by virtue of their rank.

“I never saw even a child spanked said Dr McGovern.

It is a virtue, however, to steal from other tribes, and this practice is curiously intermingled with the marriage customs. Although there are as many as 5000 women m one tribe, it is unknown and illegal for a man to marry in his own tribe. He repairs to a neighboring tribe and goes through either the act or the formality of stealing the girl of his heart. Women wear not a stitch of clothing, and men only a loin-cloth.

The Indians carry on the practice of eating the bones of their ancestors. After 15 or 20 years hones are disinterred, pounded to powder, and mixed with the drink taken at certain festivals. apparently with the thought that the souls and power of their ancestors will be communicated to the bodies of their descendants. A kind' of freemasonry—flic Juruuari rites—binds the tribes together, 'this is entirely a man’s affair. For a woman to see the instruments used at the ceremonies means instant death for her. Boys and men have to suffer a severe initiation ; they are whipped until they bleed.

1 think 1 was probably the first person to lie initiated without whipping.” said Dr McGovern. “It took me three or four months to win the confidence of a tribe before I was permitted to attend. Then a chief presented me with a complete set of instruments on condition that I would not allow any woman to see them.”

Ihe men, for the most part, have finer figures than the women, who are apt to be small and stumpy. Deformed persons are unknown, and twins are killed at birth as evil tilings. "I found the diet of monkey and ants very nice indeed.” Dr McGovern admitted. “Ants taste like crisp bacon, while monke is like a cross between pork and chicken.

Fever was another enemy, and Dr -McGovern at one time almost died under an attack. A Brazilian who had acted as guide met his death in a tragedy of self-sac-rifice. The party were descending a cataract iu six canoes, when the sixth containing the guide and the records of tiie expedition, capsized. “Save the papers and 1 will look alter myself,” cried tlm Brazilian. The papers were rescued, but the brave man was drowned.