574 ANNUAL KEPOET SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1911. 



mies in terrible hand-to-hand deadly encounter, when the cutlass 

 replaces the useless lance. 



Their bloody feuds too often form painful phases in the life of the 

 Lolo. The clans, the tribes ; often exhausted, lose the most valiant 

 of their fighters in these frightful dramas, which at times lead to the 

 extermination of an entire clan. I had with Father Guebriant a very 

 vivid impression of a tribal feud and its atrocities. It was in Feb- 

 ruary, 1907. Invited by a chief of a clan, we were directed toward 

 Ya Long, near a hidden recess in the mountains at a height of 10,000 

 feet. Fortunately for us, a very rough halting place prevented our 

 reaching the chief's village before nightfall. It was in this village, 

 a mile and a quarter from us, that a frightful drama was enacted dur- 

 ing the night. The village was completely reduced to ashes, and the 

 wife of the chief of the clan, wounded by many lance cuts, escaped as 

 by a miracle from the flames. His daughter, 16 years of age, was 

 found dead, the body completely charred. Some slaves perished in 

 the same manner, as also some domestic animals which could not be 

 saved. This was the feud. You would be amazed with what fierce- 

 ness they attack defenseless beings, for the law that rules the feud is 

 the extermination of the enemy, even the women and the little ones. 

 Not a bit of mercy. This is war more legitimate, if possible, than a 

 fight against an invader. It is the war of the first ages of man, the 

 fight to death, not for social domination, but for the safeguard, the 

 preservation of the race. 



Though the Lolo is terrible in his vengeances, he is altogether differ- 

 ent in ordinary life. He is a valiant and loyal warrior who fights for 

 the very pleasure of fighting, but always respects his wounded or cap- 

 tive enemy. 



The Lolo owns some slaves, but he rarely treats them cruelly. On 

 the contrary, he is kind to them, gives them fields to cultivate, is con- 

 tent with small rent, and finds wives and husbands for them in the 

 tribe. He even gives them wide liberty on condition that they do 

 not strive to abuse it. 



He exhibits his unselfishness most of all in his treatment of the 

 feeble, the disinherited ones of the tribe, women, children, and the 

 aged, or those afflicted with contagious maladies, as lepers. All these 

 beings are loved, succored, and never do they try to get rid of them. 

 This warrior, so fierce in his vengeances, is full of compassion for 

 these suffering ones, and he aids them to the limit of his resources. 



He is likewise a man of good faith, who is anxious to keep Ms engage- 

 ments. If he has given you his word, he holds to it to the end, even if 

 some dire3t interest, some serious motives, should at any time arise 

 to shatter his first resolution. 



I have several times confided myself to the Lolos, placed myself 

 in their hands, without having experienced the least deceit, the 



