Chapter I: Front Matter

THE ISLE OF
VANISHING MEN

THE ISLE OF VANISHING MEN
A NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURE IN CANNIBAL-LAND

BY
W. F. ALDER

ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS
BY THE AUTHOR

NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1922

Copyright, 1922, by
THE CENTURY CO.

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

TO
MY WIFE

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I WE LEAVE AMBON 3

II THE PARADISE-HUNTER 13

III THE KAMPONG 32

IV THE ASSISTANT AND THE NAUTILUS 45

V WE’RE OFF! 53

VI SHIPWRECKED AMONG CANNIBALS 67

VII WE ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 85

VIII WE TAKE UP QUARTERS IN THE KAMPONG 97

IX THE STORY OF THE SWISS SCIENTIST 116

X OUR CONSOLATION PRIZE 129

XI THE FEAST 140

XII THE HEAD DANCE 148

XIII A KANGAROO HUNT 160

XIV THE BIRD OF PARADISE 167

XV THE COMING OF THE BURONG MAS 173

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

“_Uhumen._” From their manner it is evident that we are
_de trop_ _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

Malays bringing on board their varied possessions 16

As the last of the _praus_ was cleared of baggage they
clustered on the gangway, shouting adieus 16

The prison-yard in Merauke, New Guinea 24

Each of the men has perforated the septum of his nose to
permit inserting a pair of boar-tusks 33

A pair of alligator-teeth make a wonderful nose-ornament 33

Enormous nose-tubes of bamboo which entirely close the
nostrils, making breathing possible only through the
mouth 36

The women wear in many cases a tiny breech-clout but no
other covering 36

A long platform which entirely encircles the kampong 45

During the day the men occupy the sleeping-benches,
while the women sit upon the sandy floor of the shacks 45

Seated at a discreet distance, watching our camp-making
intently 80

There had been a disagreement in the village 80

Those who failed to get a package come to the dead-line
and asked for one 85

They may be friendly at one moment and turn upon one the
very next 85

We made presents of tin jewelry to the natives, but what
they wanted was tobacco 92

Feathered head-dresses moving through the tall grass
told us of the natives watching our progress toward
the kampong 92

Twice we encounter stalwart warriors standing like
sentinels, as though disdainful of concealment 97

The body is placed in a sitting position after being
gaily decorated for the funeral 97

The native climbs a cocoanut-palm in a series of humps
and stretches, like a giant inch-worm 100

Making fire. A piece of hard wood is rotated by hand
while in contact with a softer piece 100

One little fellow takes great delight in hearing his
mother describe the battles in which his father
collected his trophies 109

After the heat of midday the men gather in the shade to
discuss the latest scandal or politics 109

Eating mud! That’s it, just plain dried mud 112

“Little Playmate” readjusts his nose-tubes 112

The hairdresser plaits long strands of raffia into the
kinky wool of the Kia Kias 116

The shiny inner surface of a Malay tobacco-box serves
them as a mirror 116

The deserted Jesuit mission which formerly was the pride
and hope of its unfortunate builder 125

In the early evening the women sit around on the
copra-drying-platforms and watch the sunset 125

They are very proud of the scar-patterns 129

The weals caused by the infection of the cuts sometimes
stand out nearly an inch from the surrounding flesh 129

The men occupy their time with revision of their
toilets, rather than in doing the chores 133

Sarah 133

The _kapala kampong_ presents us with human skulls, the
highest token of their esteem 136

A young and very fearsome Kia Kia spends a great deal of
his time with her 136

The circle breaks up and a dance takes place for our
entertainment 140

They sang for us at the top of their leather lungs 140

Long into the night the mad festival continues. To exert
themselves in any productive occupation to a like
extent would kill them 144

The drums are tuned in a peculiar manner. Having no
strings fastened to the heads with which to tighten
them, they place small lumps of resin mixed with clay
on the heads to produce the desired sound 144

The Head Dance. Two girls begin it by slowly walking up
and down in the center of the circle of onlookers 148

The Dutch officials punish them severely for indulging
in these practices 148

Under the influence of the wady, exhilarated by the wild
dance, the men finally take part 157

They again threaten the men with total exclusion from
all intercourse with their families 157

This man confessed to having eaten many human beings. To
accurately estimate the number was beyond his power of
reckoning 161

The sharp-edged stone war-club in the hands of such men
as these makes quick work of a victim 161

The skipper is a jolly fellow with a countenance that
beams good nature, mixed with a shrewdness that speaks
of business ability 176

He beats a gong briskly and chants a prayer in Malay,
while the rest of the crew add their prayers to his
petitions 176

THE ISLE OF VANISHING MEN