THE TRIBE TO THE NORTH
Instead of conveying the copper box to the village it was carried to the
landing place and taken to the vessel, where it could be examined later,
when they had more time. It was now of more importance to keep in touch
with Muro and Uraso, the former of whom had gone to the north as soon as
he had given the report mentioned in the last chapter.
On the return to the village they discussed the affairs of the previous
day, which John had abstained from mentioning.
"What is it that really makes the people act that way when they are
hypnotized!" asked George. "I have heard it said that there isn't any
truth in mesmerism."
"Mesmerism is the old term used to designate certain phenomena, which,
originally, was supposed to be a force that emanated from the mesmerist.
It is now known that hypnotism may be regarded as artificial catalepsy."
"But what is catalepsy?"
"It is an affection produced by hysteria, during which the patient's
body becomes rigid. It is claimed by some that somnambulism is one phase
of the hypnotic condition."
"But in what way do your motions act on the one who is being
hypnotized?"
"The motions have nothing whatever to do with producing the condition.
That is for effect, merely. Those who are able to bring about a mesmeric
condition, try to concentrate the mind on some particular thing, and by
making gentle motions, or passes, this is more forcibly impressed on
them."
"What was the object of Uraso telling them that the White Man's death
was a terrible one, and trying to frighten them?"
"Merely to make them concentrate their minds on one thing alone. Terror,
or great fear, is one of the things which tends to a cataleptic
condition. Great excitement, and sometimes excessive joy, have been
known to do the same thing."
"Then the object is merely to bring the mind under the control of the
operator?"
"Yes; what was originally considered as a power flowing from the
hypnotist, is nothing more than his mental action or control which
prevents the subject from exercising his own volition."
A few hours after they returned to the village Uraso and Muro returned,
with the information that the Korinos were now within the territory of
the tribe to the north, and they wisely concluded it would not be good
policy to pursue them further, and their prudence was commended by John.
The natives were supremely happy in displaying their gifts, and the
Chief, while much annoyed at the escape of the Korinos, was content to
be relieved of their presence, when, after numerous conversations with
John, he realized that they were of no use to him and his people.
John announced that he intended to visit the tribe to the north, and
purposed starting the following day. The Chief advised him to take with
him all the warriors in the village, because he felt sure they would
have a hostile reception.
"It seems to me," replied John, "that would be the wrong thing to do. I
do not wish him to think that my mission is a warlike one, and a large
force will be in the nature of an invasion of his territory."
"Perhaps you are right; but we have found him a difficult Chief to deal
with. He is not like a man. He cannot stand up straight, as we do, and
he kills and eats all who fall into his hands."
This information was regarded by John as one of the imagination, purely,
so it did not weigh heavily on his mind. What seemed to impress him most
was the fate of the poor fellows who had voluntarily sought the
protection of the cannibal Chief.
"I would like to have your opinion as to the course which the Chief will
take when the Korinos fall into his hands?" asked John.
The Chief mused for a while, and then said: "They have no Korinos and do
not believe in them, but they may tell the Chief that we tried to offer
them as sacrifices, and he may use them with his people to stir up
feelings of revenge against us."
"But," replied John, "the captives you took, and who have escaped may
tell him of our treatment of them and this may work in our favor."
"I do not think so," he replied. "We have had many instances where they
have refused to make friends with us, and for that reason we always had
war."
"But have you not often sacrificed their people when you have taken them
in your wars?"
"We have always done so."
"Have any of your captives ever returned to them?"
"No."
"And have they always killed and eaten your people when they captured
them?"
"Yes; and none has ever returned to us. The Korinos would not let us
keep the captives, but said that the Great Spirit told them they must be
sacrificed."
The foregoing information was sufficient to convince John of one thing,
namely, that it was really the spirit of the Korinos which kept up the
tribal warfare, at least so far as one end of the conflict was
concerned.
In spite of all the arguments advanced by the Chief, John was determined
to make the trip with his own people, and thus avoid any feeling on the
part of the tribe, against their present friend.
In the morning John called Stut, and advised him to wait until the
following day, when he should pull up anchor and proceed to the north
for a distance not exceeding twenty miles, and then, seeking a safe
anchorage, to await news from him.
With forty of his own trusted men, together with Uraso and Muro, they
set out on the march to the north, cheered by the people of the village,
who came out to witness their departure. The old man who had been
rescued, was still too weak to accompany them, so he was taken to the
vessel, where he could receive the best of care and attention.
In order not to be out of touch with the sea, John decided to follow the
hills along the eastern side of the island, and this course was selected
because the people to which they were going, unlike those at the
southern portion of the island, lived in the mountainous region, as
heretofore stated, and the probability of meeting them would be much
better than if they had followed the level plateau.
[Illustration: _Fig. 10. Cinnamon._]
In the march the boys, as well as John, were ever on the alert to
discover the possibilities of the island, so far as the natural products
were concerned.
"Something smells awfully sweet around here," said George, as they were
tramping along a beautifully-wooded crest.
"I think it must come from the trees that have the beautiful pale blue
flowers. Wait until I get a branch."
One of the men was quick to carry out Harry's wish. John was immensely
pleased at the interest which the boys exhibited. "What does it smell
like?" he inquired.
"Something like cloves and cinnamon, both," answered George.
"Peel off the bark and taste it."
"It is just like cinnamon."
"That is correct. It is the real cinnamon tree. It is the cassia of the
Bible, one of the spices so frequently referred to in Scripture. The
bark only is used, but the species which have fruit, are gathered and
oil expressed from them, which is called _cinnamon suet_."
Advancing, the surface became more rugged. They had to cross numerous
gullies, and broken portions, and frequently jagged rocks would show
themselves. Evidently when the island was raised up from the sea the
rocks were forced through, and the climate in time disintegrated them,
and formed a soil.
"Do you think we shall find any minerals here?" asked Harry.
"If we are to judge from our experiences on Wonder Island, where there
is almost exactly the same formation, we may reasonably expect to find
copper and also iron here."
"While Harry and I were over at the bluff with Uraso, we saw something
like green drippings, from the walls."
"That is, undoubtedly, copper,--that is the sulphate form, in which it
is usually found."
"I was amused at Laleo (the native guide), who told Uraso this morning
that our mission would be successful, and when he was asked why,
answered, that the first thing they saw was three black birds. How
superstitious these people are."
"Do you think they are any more so than civilized people?" answered
John. "It is curious how the number three runs through all their ideas.
In certain parts of England they have a great many omens, and one of
them is that if the traveler, starting on a journey, meets three
magpies, it means success; if two appears, it is a sign of marriage; and
four unexpected good news."
"I recall that it is considered lucky for sun to shine on a bride,"
added Harry.
"The other part of that couplet is 'rain on a corpse,'" remarked John.
"I never knew it was lucky for the corpse to be rained on," responded
Harry, in a questioning tone.
John laughed immoderately, as he answered: "Well, it might not be lucky
for the corpse. But there are numerous lucky and unlucky signs that no
one can account for, prevalent in our own country, such as putting on
stockings wrong side out, and finding a horseshoe."
"Of course, they are both fortunate signs," said George, smiling at the
thought.
"In Scotland, among those who are the most matter of fact people in the
world, signs are very common. It is a bad omen with them to stumble over
a threshold, or to step over green or red, or to sneeze while making up
a bed."
"After all, we are not so much ahead of the savages, are we?" mused
George.
During the march that day there was nothing specially worthy of note.
The animals they met were few and small, and it did not appear that
there were any which merited mentioning, so the boys gave up the idea of
meeting any adventure in that line.
Shortly after four in the afternoon they began to seek out some good
camping place. Laleo informed Uraso that they had now passed into the
territory claimed by the northern tribe, and the desirability of caution
was necessary.
A rocky shelter, only a short distance above a running brook below, was
found suitable, and there the halt was made for the night. Early in the
morning they were awakened by Muro, with the welcome intelligence that
the _Pioneer_ was sighted several miles to the north, where she lay at
anchor.
At the suggestion of John the boys went to the headland, a mile to the
east, and there hoisted a signal flag, which was observed by the vessel,
and the return signal given, this being indicated by four circular
sweeps of the flag.
Waving the flag twice to the right, and twice to the left indicated that
they were to remain there until further advised.
After a good breakfast the march was resumed, leading further to the
west to avoid the rugged hills near the sea. Either Uraso or Muro was
constantly in the lead, always accompanied by one of the men who, in
case of necessity, might be sent back to furnish John the reports of his
observations.
Before noon the messenger came in with the welcome information that the
first of the natives had been noticed, not far to the north. Muro, who
was in the lead, awaited the arrival of John and the boys.
Together they went forward, the men remaining in the camp. A few men
could thus move through the brush with less likelihood of observation,
than a large number, which was the principal reason for this mode of
procedure.
After another mile of cautious movement, a runner was sent back with the
order to bring all of them forward. Away in the distance the village was
sighted, George's field glasses now being brought into play. The huts
could be seen plainly along the mountain side, and scattered about in
profusion amid a plentiful supply of trees.
In some respects, viewed from a distance, the scene did not look at all
primitive, and were it not for the crude character of the houses it
might have been taken for a typical modern town or village.
Only one hut had been passed, thus far. It was not at all crudely built,
and while it had been left to decay, it showed that the owner had some
ideas of comfort, and an eye to convenience, as it was located by the
side of a spring. On one side of the cottage was a weed-grown garden,
and some fine specimens of taro as well as wild potatoes were in
evidence.
Earthenware cooking utensils were discovered, which added to the
interest of the place, but no other furniture was found to show how the
people lived. It might have been deserted for a year or more.
Ascending the second small hill, they were startled to find themselves
face to face with a half dozen of the natives, who were frightfully
alarmed at the appearance of the visitors, for they set up a shout and
ran like deer toward the village.
John kept on at the head of his force, and while the commotion in the
village, not a half mile distant, was plainly visible, he did not halt,
until he saw a curious crowd surrounding a short individual, who stood
apart from those around him.
"That is the Chief," said Laleo. "It is said he is a terrible man, and
unlike all others," thus repeating what the Chief had told John.
As he made no attempt to come forward or indicate what his wishes were,
John directed the men to follow him, fifty feet in his rear, and he went
on until within two hundred feet of the motley crowd, the people in the
meantime making no sign of resistance, nor did they object to the
advance.
When John stopped, the curious figure, who was designated as the Chief,
moved forward toward John without a bit of hesitation, and the boys were
simply dumbfounded at his singular appearance, and at the gait he
assumed.
A word picture of him would not be amiss. He was a hunchback, with an
extraordinary lump on his back, the arms much too long for his body, and
crooked, distorted legs. The head, however, was massive, and covered
with a heavy beard, which seemed to grow close up to the eyes, giving
him a fierce appearance, because his head was covered with a thick
coating of long gray, or sandy hair, that swung around the darker beard,
as he shambled along.
As he neared John his bright and staring eyes were the first thing
noticed. When he came across the intervening space, his face was stern,
and unforbidding, but as he neared John it relaxed, and he began to
smile.
John stepped forward, and extended his hand. "I am glad to meet you,"
said John.
The man looked at John for a moment, and then tried to mumble something,
that the boys could not understand. After a few attempts he fairly
shrieked out: "How are you?"
This was certainly a startling thing, because the voice and the
intonation were perfect. John opened his jacket and brought out a
miniature American flag, which was unrolled, and the moment the strange
being caught sight of it he seized it and pressing it to his lips,
kissed it fervently.
"I am an American," he finally struggled to utter. "I am a white man,
and you are the first white man I have seen for fifty years. You are
welcome to our home and village."
The boys could not credit their senses. How did this poor specimen of
the white race become the powerful Chief of a tribe of savage cannibals?
John looked at him for a moment in astonishment, as he asked: "How long
have you been Chief of the people here?"
"About forty-five years. They are good people too."
"We heard you were cannibals," remarked John.
For a moment he scowled, and then his face brightened up. "Yes; I know
my neighbors to the south have always believed that to be so, but they
have heard such tales from their witch doctors, such as we used to have,
but it is not true."
"You mean the Korinos?"
"Yes, those who left you two days ago, and have come to me for
protection," and he smiled as he said this.
"I tried to get them, but they eluded us," added John, by way of
information.
"You must pardon me, but it is still a little difficult for me to form
sentences. It is so long since I have talked to any one in my native
tongue. But I am impolite. Bring your people into the village, and let
us entertain you. I do so want to hear about the great world and what it
is now like."
The Chief turned to his people and told them that the White Chief was
from his own tribe, and that he came from a far-away country, on a visit
to him, and that they must treat the people as his own.
Nothing more was needed to make them welcome. George suggested to John
that Stut on the _Pioneer_ should be notified, but before they had time
to carry out the order a number of the villagers came rushing through
the village and sought out the Chief.
The latter turned to John and said: "My people tell me that there is a
large ship here."
"It is the vessel we came in," answered John, "and we were about to send
a messenger to tell them to anchor near the village."
"I am so happy to know this," said the Chief. "I want to see the ship,
because it is the first time that any one has stopped at our shores.
Some years ago we found some strange things that floated ashore from a
wrecked vessel, and I want to show them to you, because I cannot
understand what some of the things could be used for."
They were led through the principal street of the town. It was clean and
well kept; the huts were far better than those in the village they had
left, and the natives were, apparently, happy and contented.
As they marched along George was the first to notice a tall individual,
who, with several others, were edging away from the visitors.
"There they are!" he cried out. John turned to inquire, when Harry
commenced laughing, as he added: "Here are the Korinos, John!"
The latter looked in the direction indicated, and laughed when he saw
their discomfiture. The Chief was hurriedly informed of the situation,
and he laughed heartily, as he ordered one of his men to bring in the
fugitives.
They were ushered in, and Uraso told them that they were friends and not
enemies, and that the White Chief tried to secure them so that their own
Chief would not harm them. It was a great relief, unquestionably, and
their actions showed it. John then told them, that he wanted to have a
talk with them, and that he would assure them of their safety.