Vic kept me well advised as to the progress of the proceedings, and
it was eventually settled that each
Of the three brother chiefs were
to gather together three hundred fighting men, making nine hundred
altogether, and these in a few days' time were to go up and avenge
the deaths of their fellow tribesmen. From the enthusiasm displayed
amongst the little men, this was evidently carried unanimously,
but I noticed two young men sitting aloof from the rest of the
crowd and looking rather sullen and frightened, and as they did not
join in the general warlike demonstrations, it was evidently their
first fight. Here, however, I made Vic interrupt in order to draw
attention to myself. What Vic translated to me was to the effect that
it was out of the question for us to go on into the enemy's country,
which we should have reached in another two hours' walk. If we did
they would certainly kill us all by shooting arrows into us from the
long grass (in other words, we should fall into an ambush), and, in
fact, since they had killed some of this tribe they would kill anyone
that came into their country. By killing these men they had declared
war. This was the sum total of Vic's translation, and I saw at once
that it was out of the question for me to go on, as no Negrito would
go with me, and I could not go alone. In any case I should have been
killed. Vic told me that very few of these Buquils ever leave their
mountain valleys, and so most of them had never seen a Filipino, much
less a white man. And so I met with a very great disappointment, and
was forced to leave without proving whether or no the story of these
bearded women was a myth. Lately I heard a rumour that an American had
visited them and proved the story true. My disappointment may well be
imagined. I had come over the worst track I had ever travelled on in
spite of rain and fever, but I at once saw that all my labours were
in vain and that I could not surmount this last difficulty. But I was
lucky in one way. The chief told Vic that if we had gone yesterday we
should all have been killed, as without knowing anything about it,
we should have got there just after the fight. So for once fever
had done me a good turn, a "providencia," I think Vic called it,
as I should have reached my destination the previous day if I had
not been delayed by fever. Out of curiosity to see what the chief
would say, I told Vic to tell him that I would help him with my gun,
but the chief was ungrateful and contemptuous, saying that they
would shoot me before I could see to shoot them. Vic thought I was
serious, and said he would not go with me, and begged me not to go,
saying, in a mixture of English and Spanish, "What will your father,
your sister, and your brother say to me when Buquil arrow make you
dead?" Needless to say I was not keen on stalking Buquils who were
waiting for me with steel arrows in long grass, and, besides, if I
went with the gallant little nine hundred, I should miss my steamer. I
never heard the result of that fight, much as I should like to have
known it. After the meeting had dispersed, we returned to the river
and rested. I bathed and took a swim in a big, deep pool under a huge
tree, which was one mass of beautiful white flowers. I have never
enjoyed a swim more. Vic also took a wash, and to my great surprise
one of the Negritos proceeded to copy him, and as Vic soaped himself
the Negrito tried to do the same thing with a stone, with which he
succeeded in getting rid of a great deal of dirt. It surprised and
amused the other Negritos, both men and women, who jeered and roared
with laughter at the unusual spectacle of a Negrito washing himself.
I signed to them to give our boy carrier a wash, as he seemed the
noisiest of the party, and two men got hold of him to duck him, but
he seemed so terrified that I stopped them. The youngster evidently
hated me for the fright he had received, as later on when I made him
a present of a silver ten-cent piece to make up for his fright -
this is a very handsome present for a Negrito - he threw it on the
ground and stamped his foot in anger. The Negritos shot several fish
and large prawns with a special kind of long pointed arrow; these
we ate with our rice by the river side before returning. The night
I stayed with my old friend, the comic chief, I found him actually
in tears and much cut up at the idea of his two sons having to take
part in the fight. I suppose it was compulsory for them to fight, but
it appeared rather odd to me that a chief should object to his sons
taking part in a fight, as the Negritos are considered very plucky
fighters. The chief sent four Negritos to carry my things down to
Florida Blanca. The following day I started back to Manila, where I
caught my steamer for the southern Philippines. Vic was much distressed
at my departure and shed many tears as I said good-bye to him, his
grief being such that even a handsome tip could not assuage it.
In the Jungles of Cannibal Papua.
CHAPTER 7
On the War-Trail in Cannibal Papua.
Expedition against the Doboduras - We hear reports about a Web-footed
Tribe - Landing at the Mouth of the Musa River - A Good Bag -
Barigi River Reached - A Flight of Torres Straits Pigeons -
A Tropical Night Scene - Brilliant Rues of Tropical Fish -
Arrival of Supplies - Prospects of a Stiff Fight - Landing of
the Force - Pigs Shot to Prevent them from being Cooked Alive -
Novelty of Firearms - A Red Sunrise - Beauty of the Forest -
Enemies' War Cry First Heard - Rushing a Village - Revolting
Relics of Cannibal Feast - Doboduras eat their Enemies Alive -
Method of Extracting the Brains - Extensive Looting - Firing at
the Enemies' Scouts - An Exciting Chase - When in Doubt Turn to
the Right - Another Village Rushed - Skirmishes with the Enemy -
Relics of Cannibalism general in the Villages - Camp Formed at the
Largest Village - Capture of Prisoners - An "Object, Lesson" -
Carriers ask Leave to Eat one of the Slain - Arigita's Opinion -
Cannibal Surroundings at our Supper - Expectation of a Night Attack.
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