AMONG CANNIBALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 October 1925, Page 6

AMONG CANNIBALS.

EXPLORER’S DARING

ARNHEM LAND SAVAGES

A graphic story of how an unarmed Englishman, attacked by fierce naked cannibals, subdued them simply by force of personality is told by the leader >of the recent expedition into the Northern Territory of Australia. Captain G. H. Wilkins recently returned to England after spending two and a half years in the wilds collecting specimens for the Natural History Museum at South Kensington. He claims to have been the first white man to establsh friendly relations with the cannibal tribes on North-East Arnhem Hand, and to dwell among them for any length of time. The first detailed account of the expedition was given to a Daily Chronicle representative by Captain Wilkins, who is seeking further adventure shortly in an airplane expedition to the Antarctic. Captain Wilkins v T as in the huge Customs shed at the King George V. Dock, surrounded by trunks, portmanteaus, packing cases, and something that looked like a small milk churn, writes the Chronicle’s representative. Addressed to the Natural History Museum, they contained the ‘o i' wing evidence of Captain Wilkins’s visit to Australia: — 750 stuffed birds. 500 stuffed animals. Several thousand insects.

Half-ton geological specimens. Between hurried exits and entrances and consultations * with Customs and dock officials concerning the dispatch of his collection, Captain Wilkins told a tale of adventure that seemed to contain a spice of every hook of adventure. SHOT AT SIGHT. “In North-East Arnhem Land,” ho said, “where we spent the last ten months o four visit to Australia, the cannibalistic natives were known to be aggressively hostile. Before our arri--vai they had killed a number of white men. i felt sure of their friendliness, however, if we could once get in touch with them. But they were very difficult to approach, as white men who had visited the district liaPcl shot natives at sight. “Knowing this, it was necessary to approach them single-handed and without arms. Before, however, I had an opportunity of meeting the natives they raided ray camp and stole a number’ of things. Fortunately they failed to find my tobacco, which they most coveted.

“I , felt, however, that they would return. They did, coming at night, when it. was impossible for me to defend myse’J. “I therefore lay motionless on m.v lied pretending to be asleep, and did not move a muscle even when they stood over me with raised spears. “For some curious reason they seemed to be afa id to attack me. and retired. PARLEY—AND PEACE. “Thev renewed the attack at sunrise the next day, however, and concealed by thick bushes they were able to apnroacli to within 30 yards lx?fore l could see them. “I went towards them unarmed, and discovered that two of the cannibals had their spears fitted to their throwing sticks and directed towards me. I continued to approach them as calmly as possible, indicating by signs that 1 had no arms. “Fortunately one of their number understood a little English, and a ’ong parley ensued. This parley lasted for about a mile, when friendly relations were established. x CANNIBALS’ DUELS WITH SPEARS. “I was able to live some considerable time. with these natives and to study their family life,” continued Captain Wilkins. Although cannibalism is not a general practice, when they are short of food they kill one of their number, and thev also eat the bodies of those whom they kill in combat. If a married woman wishes to marry a. single man and her husband does not particularly wish to keep her a duel with spears is arranged between the husband and the woman’s lover. The victor has the woman. Even though the husband may be really anxious to get rid of Lis wife his honour demands that he must fight a duel. HUNT BY SEARCHLIGHT. The mammals collected by Captain. Wilkins range from mice two. inches long to bottle-nosed sharks. He has a iso brought over with him some rare Australian marsupiars, flying phalangers, wombats, wallabies, and other species of small mammals, birds and insects. “Most of the animals are nocturnal in their habits,” he said, “which meant that we had to hunt them throughout the night with the aid of searchlights. Traps are useless in most cases, because certain ants are so voracious that small animals caught- in traps are devoured in a few hours. Some species of ants build their nests in trees, and if disturbed fall in showers on the hunter.

“These' ants are used as food by the natives, but although we were compelled to live for much of the time on native food we could never bring our- > elves to the point of eating ants, allhough they were supposed to be a delicacy.”