IN THE JUNGLE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1929, Page 6

IN THE JUNGLE

ACCUSED OF MURDER

13<y Mr T. A. Clover, the African explorer.)

BERBER ATI, Moyan Logan, Equatorial Africa, May 16. The sun rose, a large ball of fire, 4 burning the river into a crimson band 1 enciroling a green country. A pair of 1 doves cooed softly and contentedly in 1 a nearby tree. Nothing marred the: perfect scene of tranquility. There 1 was nothing to indicate the tragedy 1 that was to happen before the sun had completed its daily labour, causing the women of the village to sing Their death 1 wail, curse me and mine, arid accuse me of murder. I made my way, as the red orb was dissolving into silver, towards the little Sara village that hid itself in the shade of the huge Tou trees, heavy under their burden of golden berries, In every corner of the compound the wamen sang as they pounded tekiar for the morning meals, the fall- of the wooden pestle keeping perfect time to the chant. "'Ebiour, Ebiour,” they called to me as I made my way in search of suitablephotographic models. They feared me and my strange machine, but the thought of meterbish (money) to come lured t-them into a sense of security they could not feel. The few francs that could be so easily earned by posing for the white man would purchase them many delectable additions to ,t’’eir monotonous meal, which was already scanty, for the new com was yet green and the last seasons nearing the end. The young brown-eyed maidens crowded, round me like half-afraid fauns waiting my bidding. They had grown up with the white man’s ways 'and were not afraid as the older women who remembered ‘ the "good old times ” before the white men were first sighted along the rivers, the days when their men were men, roaming the bush in search of roots, and perhaps a lucky shot would bring meat to the village, ; In those days they could carry out their tribal rites 'undisturbed. No interfering official could teJJ -them -the rights and wrongs of lip-distort-ing. Their men fought , and died, but that was the law the bush which , they understood. ! The camera with its evil eye was a . mysterious thing that at the moment 1 apparently did nothing, but sometimes , they had caught their reflection in the i dreadful thing which caused them to lower their eyes in fear and think it , capable of any wickedness. After much persuasioon and many ‘ francs their fears were gradually over- , come and they consented, to pose, but I the sweat stood put on their brows and it was easy to see that only h superhuman effort held them to the spot long enough for the fearful , operation to be carried out, fully. .. ’ , Even the handful; of money. I gave I* them 5 failed to lighten their fears as. they hurried away, clutching it in a wet fist as though they dreaded'' it would escape them in spite of tlipir strenuous labours. . ! ’ j As 1 left the village their eyes followed me. Nothing had happened; but the thought of the evil eye weighed heavily on their shoulders, and they allowed me to pass out without a word of thanks, or even well wishes for the road that led. to our camp. * The women were wailing; thin, drawn-out moans like stricken animals, unearthy sounds that told of hurt souls. The muffled sound of the death drums drifted up from the river, sil--1 ently t'ho men' stood or sat in groups looking in the direction of our camp. 1 Something had happened—what? ' I called my boy his usually cheerful ' face wore a mask of depression. "Musser, why do the women cry ? Why is n» corn being pjunded in the lages"He stood awkwardly on one foot ,and regarded, me reproachfully, and I knew' inwardly lie was accusing me; “Master, the little red men of the river (crocodiles) have taken three of . the women you 01i0..0, and the people are sad. ...” ! . The sun sank as it had risen, a red globe of fire, leaving a world of trag--1 ery to cry through the nigld, its last 1 glow mingled with the, light ,of the village fires. . x The wails 'of women and the chants ■ of men came to me through the night ' as tnoy- carried on their incantations. 1 They caused me to remain awake, rolling restlessly from side to side. The deaths were being placed at,my door and they were calling on their gods for vengeance . An eye for an eye is the law of the wild.