2.00 HILL TRIBES OF FORMOSA. 
mountains, they dress in skins and warm clothing, whereas 
in the lower levels they go almost naked. Although there is a 
general similarity in the dialects spoken in the north, many words 
and numerals being pronounced almost alike, yet there are 
ereat dissimilarities, and in passing from one tribe to another 
I have frequently been obliged to engage a squaw or two on 
occasions not only to carry certain articles required on the road, 
but to interpret and explain to my new friends all about myself. 
I have always understood that savage women are the best passports 
you can take with you, for if the tribes you wish to visit are not at 
open war, you are considered safe if in their company. A single 
individual would be safe, or perhaps two, but I doubt if a large 
number of foreigners would be allowed to proceed far, excepting 
they were prepared to force their way. When moving from one 
hunting ground to another, I have always had told off to me several 
squaws, and the chief or father of the tribe has always insisted on 
my being accompanied by them, informing me that I should be 
safe with them in the event of my losing my way, or coming in 
contact with men belonging to other tribes whom we might meet. 
On several occasions I found this to be perfectly true, and if it 
had not been for such a generally recognised passport, my skull 
might long ago have been hanging up in a skull bag in the house 
of some dashing young warrior, bent, as most of them are. on collect- 
ing heads. 
It is not at all an uncommon occurrence when passing through 
dense jungle and forest to be interrogated by unseen savages, on 
the hunt or prowl, who, from their places of concealment, ask innu- 
merable questions, before allowing you to pass on. If alone and una- 
ble to give satisfactory replies, a featherless arrow would probably 
end your fate. The women are, of course, invaluable on such occa- 
sions, and their escort in times of peace is always respected. 
But to return to the subject of language, there are undoubtedly 
in the north and central ranges several dialects, all containing 
many words and numerals of a similar sound and meaning, the 
diversities, however, being so numerous as to prevent certain tribes 
from understanding the languages of adjoining tribes. In the 
south, about Mount Morrison, and in the woody mountains reach- 
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