When I was finally able to sit up and look about, I saw that we were
at the threshold of a camp or village, consisting of a number of
rectangular huts, with high-peaked roofs, thatched or rather
shingled, with the broad, round leaves of the trees that grew about.
We saw now for the first time the females and the young. The former
were similar to the males, except that they were of lighter build,
and they were far more numerous. They had udders, with from four to
six teats, and many of them were followed by numerous progeny,
several that I saw having as high as six young in a litter. The young
were naked, but the females wore a garment similar to that worn by
the males, except that it was less ornate, as was their harness and
other trappings. From the way the women and children rushed upon us
as we were unloaded in camp, I felt that they were going to tear us
to pieces, and I really believe they would have had not our captors
prevented. Evidently the word was passed that we were not to be
injured, for after the first rush they contented themselves with
examining us, and sometimes feeling of us or our clothing, the while
they discussed us, but with the bodies of those who were slain, it
was different, for when they discovered these where they had been
unloaded upon the ground, they fell upon them and commenced to devour
them, the warriors joining them in the gruesome and terrible feast.
Orthis and I understood now that they had cut the throats of their
fellows to let the blood, in anticipation of the repast to come.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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