on of that enemy, or the spirits of departed
ones are called in through spiritists' influence to come and assist, and
the medium pronouncing a neighbouring tribe guilty, the time is near when
that tribe will be visited and cruel deeds done. They know nothing of a
God of Love--only gods and spirits who are ever revengeful, and must be
appeased; who fly about in the night and disturb the peace of homes. It
is gross darkness and cruelty, brother's hand raised against brother's.
Great is the chief who claims many skulls; and the youth, who may wear a
jawbone as an armlet is to be admired.

When we first landed here, the natives lived only to fight, and the
victory was celebrated by a cannibal feast. It is painfully significant
to find that the only field in which New Guinea natives have shown much
skill and ingenuity is in the manufacture of weapons. One of these is
known as a Man-catcher, and was invented by the natives of Hood Bay, but
all over the vast island this loop of rattan cane is the constant
companion of head-hunters. The peculiarity of the weapon is the deadly
spike inserted in the handle.

The _modus operandi_ is as follows:--The loop is thrown over the unhappy
wretch who is in retreat, and a vigorous pull from the brawny arm of the
vengeful captor jerks the victim upon the spike, which (if the weapon be
deftly handled) penetrates the body at the base of the brain, or, if
lower down, in the spine, in either case inflicting a death-wound.

All these things are changed, or in process of change. For several years
there have been no cannibal ovens, no desire for skulls. Tribes that
could not formerly meet but to fight, now meet as friends, and sit side
by side in the same house worshipping the true God. Men and women who,
on the arrival of the mission, sought the missionaries' lives, are only
anxious now to do what they can to assist them, even to the washing of
their feet. How the change came about is simply by the use of the same
means as those acted upon in many islands of the Pacific. The first
missionaries landed not only to preach the Gospel of Divine love, but
also to live it, and to show to the savage a more excellent way than
theirs. Learning the language, mixing freely with them, showing
kindnesses, receiving the same, travelling with them, differing from
them, making friends, assisting them in their trading, and in every way
making them feel that their good only was sought. They thought at f