Disease, sickness, and death have
all to be accounted for. They know nothing of malaria, filth, or
contagion. Hence they hold that an enemy causes these things, and
friends have to see that due punishment is made. The large night firefly
helps to point in the direction of that enemy, or the spirits of departed
ones are called in through spiritists' influence to come and assist, and
the medium pronouncing a neighbouring tribe guilty, the time is near when
that tribe will be visited and cruel deeds done. They know nothing of a
God of Love--only gods and spirits who are ever revengeful, and must be
appeased; who fly about in the night and disturb the peace of homes. It
is gross darkness and cruelty, brother's hand raised against brother's.
Great is the chief who claims many skulls; and the youth, who may wear a
jawbone as an armlet is to be admired.
When we first landed here, the natives lived only to fight, and the
victory was celebrated by a cannibal feast. It is painfully significant
to find that the only field in which New Guinea natives have shown much
skill and ingenuity is in the manufacture of weapons.
Pages:
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238