@ilinx:~$ Cecil Curtis
Cecil Curtis has been the first to give an account of Nma, in particular of the Tak N'ma tribe which was considered the most violent of the indigenous populations of the island and perhaps 'the most unspeakble selvages on earth'. Curtis expedition is remembered as a failure in the communication between modern and ancient culture, and Curtis' madness and death caused by malaria is become a myth. Last passages of Curtis' memories before his death:

17th July 1883
I know now that I will never leave this place. The jungle is rotting me into nothingness. Mysupplies are exhausted. Clouds of mosquitoes torment me and I am plagued by the pounding,crushing, smothering heat.

28th July 1883
I have broken from everything, in any case participated in something abominable ... behind thetattered masks of man and God.Christian civilization is no better than the prancing of savages ...How could human fellowship exist after this?

24th August 1883
Needless to say, the Limbic Key continues to elude me. I strongly suspect it is a fiction. The Orderare pursuing a chimera – the sense of destiny has not departed, however. On the contrary, I wasmeant to be here, irrespective of the motives of those who sent me. Other forces were at work. Ihave been chosen since the beginning of time.Curse this blasphemous fate.

11th August 1883
The language of these savages is impenetrable. They now promise to ‘take me to Katak’. To meetmyself, therefore! Or perhaps a rabid dog!!

27th August 1883
The fever has melted away the walls between waking and sleep. Consciousness has become aloathsome fog. I sense that the incessant rumbling of volcanic activity is connected with thevisions that plague me constantly now ... it felt as if I were carried down my spine ... Thingsancient beyond imagination ... beyond the ultimate gate of ruin and insanity ... oceans ofsubterranean fire ...


For a more detailed account of Curtis' expedition and experience with the Tak N'ma see the diary of Echidna Stillwell's account of the Mu N'ma

Stillwell-Curtis memories    Echidna Stillwell    Nma