The ferocity of the scene below us was almost indescribable. The No-
vans warriors were circling the village at a rapid run, attempting to
keep the enemy in a compact mass within, where it would present a
better target for their spears. Already the ground was dotted with
corpses. There were no wounded, for whenever one fell the nearest to
him whether friend or foe cut his throat, since the victors would
devour them all without partiality. The females and the young had
taken refuge in the huts, from the doorways of which they watched the
progress of the battle. The defenders attempted repeatedly to break
through the circling No-vans. The warrior with whom I had been
talking told me that if they were successful the females and the
young would follow them through the break scattering in all
directions, while their warriors attempted to encircle the No-vans.
It was almost immediately evident that the advantage lay with the
force that succeeded in placing this swift-moving circle about its
enemy, and keeping the enemy within it until they had been
dispatched, for those in the racing circle presented a poor target,
while the compact mass of warriors milling in the center could scarce
be missed.
Following several unsuccessful attempts to break through the ring of
savage foemen the defenders suddenly formed another smaller ring
within, and moving in the opposite direction to the No-vans, raced in
a rapid circle. No longer did they cast spears at the enemy, but
contented themselves with leaping and bounding at a rapid gait. At
first it seemed to me that they had lost their heads with terror, but
at last I realized that they were executing a strategic maneuver
which demonstrated both cunning and high discipline. In the earlier
stages of the battle each side had depended for its weapons upon
those hurled by the opposing force, but now the defenders hurled no
weapons, and it became apparent that the No-vans would soon no longer
have spears to cast at them. The defenders were also lessening their
casualties by moving in a rapid circle in a direction opposite to
that taken by the attackers, but it must have required high courage
and considerable discipline to achieve this result since it is
difficult in the extreme to compel men to present themselves
continuously as living targets for a foe while they themselves are
permitted to inflict no injury upon the enemy.
Ga-va-go apparently was familiar with the ruse, for suddenly he gave
a loud cry which was evidently a command. Instantaneously, his entire
force wheeled in their tracks and raced in the opposite direction
paralleling the defenders of the village, and immediately thereafter
cast their remaining spears at comparatively easy targets.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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