3-077-722 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches in the island of Formosa: first sight of an aboriginal savage, 1890. '[our correspondent] Mr. Edmund Hornby Grimani... met with a tribe of aboriginal savages; and the Sketches now presented give a lively notion of their looks and manners..."The males, who were all armed with long knives, wore skull-caps of raw hide, long hair, and very short kilts...Their complexions were very dark, and their skins rough from exposure; several were bleeding about the legs, feet, and hands, from thorn- pricks and abrasions against rocks, wounds incidental to the hard lives they lead. I opened the sketch-book, and began with the chief...[the chief] returned, well armed, and reinforced by his whole tribe, who advanced by leaps and bounds down the precipitous mountain side, flourishing their spears in a very threatening manner, evidently thirsting for vengeance...Fortunately, the reproduction of my sketch-book and pencil had the effect of stopping their advance, and allowing me time to send out an interpreter to hold a party and explain matters. The mission was successful...Many of the savages looked picturesque, with the skin of a species of leopard suspended gracefully from the shoulder and partly wrapped round the body".' From "Illustrated London News", 1890.