THE SAVAGE MIND

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 80, 2 October 1933, Page 2

THE SAVAGE MIND

CAMIBAL INSTIMJ^

A MISSIONARY'S ESCAPE

(From "The Pott's" ReprertnUtivt.) SYDNEY, September 21. A- story of progress of mission wor'* among the fearsome Big Nambus tribes of Malekula Island, New Hebrides, was related by Pastor 0. H. Parker, pioneer Seventh Day Adventist missionary, who returned to Sydney. thi» week .on furlongh. He described how his mcdi» cine case and. a happy inspiration saved him from being \pffered as » human sacrifice on his fiwt day on. th« island many years ago. ■.■:■• :'

;Mr, Parker novr clajms the friend-! ship of the tribes, one of which tlrreati ehed to eat him when ho ■went to Majei kula in 1913. Cannibalism is stillpraetised among some of the Big Ncmbus,; lie says, but this particular ■ tribe" has given it up.' He has;seen the remains 1 of cannibal feasts. He says that it is not the love of .human flesh'""which' at* tracts the cannibal, who hopes by eat-i ing the flesh, to absorb the virtue* -of tlie -victim. As far as actual-flesh. i» concerned, the cannibal would prefer a black man; for he contends that white flesh is too salt. '- '

Describing his escape froni the caa* nibals on the first day of iris landing on Malekula, Mr. Parker said he landed: from a small boat, and was suddenly; seized by a band of natives. He sooa realised that he had strayed into a sacrificial circle. In silence the natives led him into the centre of the circle, where he'was placed oa the sacrificial _ stones. The nativoa then retired to]' the edge of the clearing,' formed .a circle, and awaited the arrival of the remainder of the tribe, to whom a messenger apparently had been sent. Sooa hundreds of savages surrounded him. On their hands and knees they began, slowly to advance towards him, grimacing horribly and making straugd. noises like the bark of a dog.

A TOEM OF WITCHCRATT. '" If I ■ could only divert their though« I felt I would be safe," said Pastor Parker, in relating his experience, ■■?.' but the first line of natives had almost, reached me before I had an inspiration. I noticed that one of the foremost wa> riors had an ugly wound yon his thigh, I hurriedly opened my medicine case, ran to him, and began tor-dress and bandage the wound. The native was too amazed to resist me, while his companions stood round with mouths agape. From him I went round the circle, andj. soon found plenty of wounds .to .dress. Within an hour I had cleaned and! treated ono hundred -wounds, obviously! the result of some recent battle with, anothei' tribe. ■

"By this time my dressing* and bandages were exhausted, and I looked' about anxiously, wondering whether I had merely diverted their attention! temporarily or succeeded in setting; aside their intentions towards me. Iwalked swiftly to the edge of the.clearing, 'and they let mo. go unmolested. I was beginning to breathe a^ain whea suddenly I was seized by giant arms, and I looked up into the face of th» tribal chief. By signs I indicated that I must return to the boat awaiting me on the beach before the sun set. la turn ho made signs that I was free to go if I would return when titb sun had risen seven times. At last I was. in tU» boat and safe." ■ v

Pastor Parker did not find. the c*« planation of his escape nntjil 'he ■ha 4 been working among the natives'- tat some time. He then realised that they believed the bandages to be a form Off witchcraft, and had been far more la* terested in ah investigation; «f. sucli strange things than in human Bacrtlce.j The tribe had abandoned afgtmive' warfare ami cannibalism, i«» 4 Its ex^ ample. -was doing much to- «onvert pikei's, ' ' ■ ' '';' '' •"' ■' "■• -■■■