Under the Totem-Pole Chiefs and Braves

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 415, 25 July 1928, Page 6

Under the Totem-Pole Chiefs and Braves

Letters to Redfeather are answered as follow: Sitting Bull: The Children of the Wigwam are listening for your voice. Where is your secret lair? Lone Dreamer: To me your name seems exactly suitable, and I am glad it appeals to you, also. Your story is a vivid pen-picture, and I hope to see much more of your work. Greetings from the Wigwam to the maid of the lonely ways. Black Eagle: Greetings to this new Chief, whose name is now inscribed for all time on the Totem Pole. I hope you will be a frequent guest at the Wigwam. Every good wish to All Saints’ troop. Big Brown Bear: A shaft of sunshine fell across the threshold of the Wigwam as Big Brown Bear again sought the trail. Many thanks for bringing me news of your tribe. Blue Moon: Your story reached me in time, Blue Moon, and I enjoyed it very much. That stately old place on the hill is surely a house of dreams. Best wishes from the Chief to this faithful THE CASSOWARY The cassowary, being a large ostriclilike bird, with only rudimentary wings, it is often imagined that it lives only in the desert. Though this is largely true of the Australian cassowary, it is not true of the representative of the family to be found in New Guinea, and certain adjacent islands. The cassowary is remarkable in many ways, and by no means least in the variety and quantity of the food it will eat. In a wild state it feeds chiefly on fruits and nuts, but it will also greedily devour mice, lizards, fishes, and insects. Although it is generally supposed that the cassowary never goes into water, these birds frequent districts close to streams, and enter the water to bathe. In fact, we are told by a scientific observer, Mr. Wilfred Powell, that the cassowary is very fond of fish, and actually catches them. On one occasion Mr. Powell was engaged in investigations some little distance up a river, and while sitting in a small boat saw a cassowary come down to the shore and stand for some minutes watching the water. It then stepped into the river where the water was about three feet deep, squatted down, ruffling its feathers, and spreading out its wings, which it submerged. The bird remained perfectly motionless with eyes closed, as if asleep, and remained in this position for about a quarter of an hour. Then, suddenly, closing its -wings and straightening its feathers, it stepped out on to the bank, where, shaking itself several times, a number of small fish fell from under its wings, and were picked up and swallowed. The fish had evidently mistaken the feathers for a kind of weed which grows in the water along the banks of the rivers. This growth much resembles the feathers of the cassowary, and as the fish hide in the weed to escape their enemies, they had taken refuge in the bird’s plumage, to their own undoing. THE STAR GAZER August Mattson, the Swedish hermit, is dead. He used to live on an island in Lake Tisnaren, studj'ing the stars, with a few goats and hens and no Man Friday. His new Calendarial Time System, based on the decimal system, won him an invitation to lecture before the French Academy—an honour for which many men of science would give half their possessions. But the hermit refused. “I have my goats to look after,” he said.

Strongbow: Many thanks, Strongbo®. I liked your scout story very muck. It has a flavour of real life with its local setting. Dancing Star: Congratulations to tjus Brave on her prize-winning story. I thint we must have a stalking expedition run Silence to earth in fcis lair. Wta: do you think about it? Great Pearl Feather: It was good to find the friendly face of tfiis Chief ®t tie Wigwam door, for many moons nave passed since he sought the Camp of Rm* feather. It is some time since yoc troop was reported in the Scout and I hope I shall soon hear again Cron the scribe, Black Panther. Sighing Wind: That tracking expedition of 21 miles sounds very excito*. Sighing Wind, and I hope you enjoy every moment of it. Thank you very much lor “Dying Fire.” It calls up a vivid pio ture. Blue Light: A warm welcome to tne Wigwam, Blue Light. I shall be toovst forward to a long letter from this new Manunui Brave, and I hope I shall oftea meet her under the Totem Pole. Dew of Dawn: Many thanks for y-V letter. I am sorry that you were unatJt to enter a story, but there will be competition before long. Red Star find your greetings. In her laat she sent her love to the Maid « Morning. Sun-flecked Shadow: You will find Royal Oak news in the Guides 9°**” this week. Many thanks. Shadow. How you will miss your W*** tenant, but I hope she will have a vwf happy holiday. __ Little Lone Pine: Measles are so romantic! 1 do hope you have infection, Little Lone Pine, and your school friends will soon r * c °T, have attended to the matter ywi trusted to my care. ..i-ft Flying Cloud: Your letter was cerxsw written under difficulties, but it me earlier than usual. It wouta strange if Flying Cloud missed a in writing to Redfeather. The ston®*; was surely an avenging demon on night, and his voice echoed and round the Wigwam. Best Flying Cloud. , _ _ Blue Heron: There is already • Dreamer in the Wigwam, p^j. Thinker seems rather too similar. __ . feather considers Blue Heron a tractive name, and what could jr. symbolic of loneliness than the t ? I *gpf. a blue heron across the sunsex. ever, if you wish, you may s ** c '- U Little Brother: Greeting*. ther. I am delighted to f ive . : hand of goodfellowship under uj** Pole. Many thanks for 3' our gecuT. news. It will appear in tne column at an early date. your name? It is one of my and seems to fit you days Little Swift Canoe; One of I think you will surely be whole time to writing. R ** er£_ mini*' to look forward to, isn’t it. Tn ture Pompadour must be *n a &X----little ornament and it win m}j£ concert always frwh in your Greetings to Little Swift Canoe Children of Redfeather. . r+ Red Star: When the warm oa.-^. turn you will soon be able tow* j in the sunshine on the vera J"L a \i«u. sorry your mother is not very o \r& am glad that the other members family have recovered. " t* a welcome visitor with her t- jjr Great Out-doors. Please g> greetings when next she cansSun Cloud: Congratulation* - reappointed Pack Leader, l will have a happy time 7* i 1 tn 1 y * gdb charges. I hope the social success and that It shekels to the company 1“”":, g Evening Gold: I am glad Assistant Pack Leader JJjJ, Could anything be more and Sun Cloud are such Br **r Many thanks for bringing L t down the trail. 1 hope he wm of interest in the "W igwam.