Кораловий острів

Chapter 31

           These,wediscoveredafterwards,werethemenwhohadbeenslaininthebattleofthepreviousday,andwerenowontheirwaytobefirstpresentedtothegodsandtheneaten.Behindthesecametwomenleadingbetweenthemathird,whosehandswerepinionedbehindhisback.Hewalkedwithafirmstep,andworealookofutterindifferenceonhisfaceastheyledhimalong,sothatweconcludedhemustbeacriminalwhowasabouttoreceivesomeslightpunishmentforhisfaults.Therearoftheprocessionwasbroughtupbyashoutingcrowdofwomenandchildren,withwhomwemingledandfollowedtothetemple.

           Herewearrivedinafewminutes.Thetemplewasatall,circularbuilding,openatoneside.Arounditwerestrewnheapsofhumanbonesandskulls.Atatableinsidesatthepriest,anelderlymanwithalonggreybeard.Hewasseatedonastool,andbeforehimlayseveralknives,madeofwood,bone,andsplintersofbamboo,withwhichheperformedhisofficeofdissectingdeadbodies.Fartherinlayavarietyofarticlesthathadbeendedicatedtothegod,andamongthemweremanyspearsandclubs.Iobservedamongthelattersomewithhumanteethstickinginthem,wherethevictimshadbeenclubbedintheirmouths.

           Beforethistemplethebodies,whichwerepaintedwithvermilionandsoot,werearrangedinasittingposture;andamancalleda"dan-vosa"(orator)advanced,andlayinghishandsontheirheads,begantochidethem,apparently,inalow,banteringtone.

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