The Wonder Island Boys: Conquest of the Savages Part 19

Charcoal and c.o.ke were turned out, as a preliminary to the smelting of the ores, and as fast as the metal was in shape, cooking vessels of various sizes were manufactured, and these were placed on sale at the store. It was thus possible for each family to acquire several articles of this kind, which heretofore had been considered the most valuable of all treasures.

Such a thing as a chair or a table was unknown on the island. The beds were made of the native gra.s.ses, strewn on the floor. It will be understood, therefore, that the manner of furnishing the houses occupied by the whites was a marvel; and when the families of the various workers moved into their new possessions, it naturally dawned on them that chairs and tables, as well as properly arranged beds, should accompany such luxury.

The Professor was at the homes of these people daily, suggesting ideas for comfort and convenience. One of the things which interested him most was the subject of cleanliness. People living in the manner to which they were accustomed, made the sanitary part of the domestic arrangement an exceedingly difficult problem.

The necessity of cleanliness was impressed on them very forcibly when, later on, he was called to administer to many of the children, who were attacked by diseases, brought on directly by carelessness in thoroughly removing all dirt and decaying matter.

To a certain degree the natives understood this, and the subject has been referred to previously, where they had the habit of anointing their bodies and those of the infants with various oils, which were obnoxious to insects and germs.

That knowledge made the task of using disinfectants much easier to instill in their minds. It was impressed on them that properly caring for the home was a daily task, and must not be neglected.

The women used combs made from the fins of fish. These were constructed in the following manner: The entire fin was removed, and the bony structure at the base of the teeth was bound between two strips of bamboo, and tied around by fibers, as shown. The whole was then placed in a vessel containing boiling water. The result was that when taken out the meat of the fish, being glue-like, would act as a cement to hold the teeth in place.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 15. Comb from fin of Fish._]

Such combs are anything but sanitary, as might be surmised, and the inhabitants were subject to pests arising from articles so made. Their only salvation was, in fact, the daily habit of using oil, and, from a sanitary point of view, there was nothing objectionable to this excepting the odor which naturally followed, due to the oil becoming rancid. The boys then began to make combs from a specie of bamboo, and from the ironwood tree.

During one of the fishing trips the boys brought home an immense turtle.

The Professor's eyes sparkled when he saw it.

Will related their experience in capturing it. "Is it good to eat?" he asked.

"Yes; all turtles and tortoises are good to eat."

"What is the difference between the two?"

"The turtle is a sea animal, and the tortoise a land and water animal.

You must have caught this near the sea, as it is a specie of turtle called the Testudo."

"What a beautiful mottled top it has!"

"That is why it interested me so much," replied the Professor. "You now have something that is far better than the wood for making combs and other like articles."

"Isn't that fine! Will it be difficult to make them up from this?"

"It is the simplest thing in the world. The outer sh.e.l.l, which is all that is used, is put into boiling water, and this softens it so that it can be worked easily."

"It seems singular that it is called a 'tortoise' sh.e.l.l if the land animals are called tortoises."

"When the sh.e.l.l first became a matter of commerce, it was supposed that the turtle and the tortoise were the same, and the name tortoise being much older than turtle, the former appellation remained in designating the sh.e.l.l."

The day and night of festivities of John and the warriors, at the Saboro village, was ended, and the column took up its march for the country of the Illyas.

Several of the scouts, sent out two days before, returned during the night, and reported that there was a strong force directly ahead and that the lower villages were also sending up a body of men, but that the latter were still two days away.

Calling Muro, John asked: "What is the nature of the country to the extreme south, or next to the sea?"

"I have never been there, but it is elevated, and is a fine country. One of my men has been there, and he may be able to tell you something about it. I will call him."

The warrior alluded to was tall, handsome and fully tattooed, as was the custom with the most distinguished of the Saboros.

"Can you tell me," asked John, "what the nature of the country is south of the mountains, and near the sea?"

"It is the country of the wise men of the Illyas. They will not allow others to go near there."

"Do you know why?"

"It is said there are wonderful things there."

"Do you know whether there are any big holes in the ground there?"

"Yes; and in some of them they keep their captives."

"Do they sacrifice their captives in those places?"

"No; they take them from those places to the villages."

"At what times do they make the sacrifices?"

"When the night is dark."

John understood from this that the sacrifices were during the period when there was no moon.

"Why do you suppose that they wait for that time?" asked George.

"Because the Great Spirit out of anger has hidden the light and to appease him the sacrifices are offered at that period. This is one of the tales that the wise men give out as the excuse for the ceremony."

John had another motive for these questions, as will appear later on.

The main Illyas village was far to the north of the caves mentioned.

Besides the main one were three others, all ranging along the western base of the mountain.

"How long will it take us," asked John, "to reach the main village?"

"Osaga knows about that, as he was near there, and was detained for several weeks before he escaped."

"I had forgotten about that." He was, however, at this time, one of the scouts, and when he returned later in the evening, said:

"We can reach there in two days, unless we should be met by the Illyas on the way. I do not think they will retreat without making a show of fight, as they will have all their warriors in the field, when they know we are marching against them."

At the rate they were going, the main force of the enemy would be reached during the day, unless they should retreat. The opinion of both Uraso and Muro was that they would not permit too close approach to the village before offering fight.

The entire route from Unity, and through the Saboro country, was one continual stretch of immense undulating plains, covered at intervals with magnificent forests, and it was evident that the soil was rich and capable of yielding any products in profusion.

The weather, too, was magnificent. Indeed, it was at a time of the year when there were few storms, the moisture being sufficient to support the growing vegetation and keeping it a beautiful green. What a paradise this part of the island would be made, if it could be maintained in peace!

The march was a continued and steady one, the warriors appearing happy and acted as though they were going to a festival, instead of to war.

Early in the afternoon the advance scouts reported the first sight of the savages, but only detached bands, which indicated, however, that they were not far away.