The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-17 00:00:00

Slave Hunters in the South Pacific.

The Rev. W. W. Will, a missionary, writing from Man-
gaia, in the South Pacific, on July 1, describes some fear-
ful scenes connected with the infamous system of man-
stealing carried on by the Peruvians—a system which, it is
to be hoped, has at length been put an end to. The rev.
gentleman says :—" You have probably heard of the doings
of the Callao slavers at Savage Island, Danger Island, Ra-
kaanga, and especially at Penrhyns. Five of our teachers are
sold into hopeless slavery ; and nearly 600 natives of the
various islands where I have recently been in the John
Williams. We hear that many thousands of the peaceful in-
habitants of these islands have been deceived by these men-
stealers, and sold into captivity on the Peruvian coast,
From the island of Mangaia five have been stolen. On
Sabbath, January 25th ultimo, a vessel hove in eight, and
was at first taken for the missionary bark. A canoe paddled
by eight natives put off. On nearing the vessel they dis-
covered their mistake ; but upon being assured that it was
an American vessel, the natives foolishly made fast their
canoe, and five of them clambered on deck. Drugged spirits
wei a given to each of them, and they stood looking vacantly
over the ship's side at their friends. The three below now
found that the rope had been cut by the white men, and
fearing for the safety of their companions on deck they
shouted to them to throw themselves overboard and swim to
the canoe. One of the five had sense enough left to attempt
to pull off his shirt, but was kept prisoner by. two white
men. The slaver immediately made all sail, and was
speedily out of sight. One of the five stolen is the
favourite son and intended successor of the King—an old
man upwards of 70. It appears that six Peruvian slavers
have been taken, and condemned by the French authoris.
ties at Tahiti, and one by the natives of Raps, At the
Marquesas, 24 poor heathens went on board one of the
slavers, supposing her to be an American whaler, and in-
tending to pilot her in. To some of them drugged spirits
were given. Others were invited to go below to an enter-
tainment which was liberally spread out ; but as soon as a
good number were below, the fatal iron grating was fastened
down upon them. The few left in their senses on deck
struggled for sweet liberty—one of them sent the blade of a
knife through the shoulder of a sailor. Five managed to
escape-19 are in slavery. The poor heathens registered a
vow that they would devour the crew of the first vessel they
got into their power. It seems that the steward and another
white man on board were opposed to taking the natives
by force. The enraged captain put them on shore, in
irons, on one of the most savage islands of the group,
with strict injunctions to the natives to kill and eat them.
Happily the poor fellows managed to escape, and got to
Tahiti, where they told their tale to the French authorities.
Another painful occurrence was related to me by the com-
mander of the French steamer the Latouche Treville, who
has had the good fortune to capture one of the Peruvian
slavers. It relates to the proceedings of the Peruvian slavers
at Papahui, or Eastern Island, the natives of which are still
heathen. Six slavers lay off the island at the same time ;
but not being successful in their endeavours to decoy the
natives, the masters resolved on a more enterprising line of
action. The crews of the six vessels were put under the com-
mand of the senior captain, and pulled ashore in their boats,
all well armed. Quantities of biscuit and cloth were scattered
on the beach to attract the natives. About 600 of them came
to divide the spoil. At length the appointed signal was given
by the firing of the senior captain's pistol. The whole body
of the buccaneers now fired on the unsuspecting multitude.
Ten were killed, and numbers wounded. A rush was now
made by the invaders to cut off the retreat of the natives.
Two hundred captives were secured, and put on board the
boats. These were equally divided among the six vessels.
As the boats pulled along shore, two lads were seen rest-
ing upon a point of rock. When the natives were scat-
tered by the firing they betook themselves to the sea and
swam for their lives. The slavers called to the lads to
come into their boat, but they did not seem inclined to
obey, they were deliberately shot dead. As the boats passed
on numbers of men, women, and children were observed to
be hiding behind the overhanging rocks. These were all
shot. Next day they set sail with their poor captives. One
of the captains overhauling those who fell to his lot consi-
dered that one poor woman would not repay the cost of her
keep, and therefore quietly ordered her to be thrown over-
board. And then as to their fate in Peru. Theyare employed
in all kinds of work. On one plantation 75 died in three
weeks from the effects of hard work, bad food, change of cli-
mate, and brutal treatment. Some are employed in digging
guano in the Chin Chin Islands (I think they a
These poor creatures are prevented from restingeuudaauwrianyg,
the day by a collar with spikes. They
eaeuefedru are
rice of
as their legs are chained together. They
theworst description. If any die a holes adureg on the guano
and the body thrown in. Many of the poor Chinamen who
preceded them were driven to commit suicide by ripping
their own bowels. As the Peruvians dare not now get slaves
from China, they are trying the experiment of getting them
from a much nearer source—by depopulating
the South Sea
Islands. During our late visit to the colonies one of the
Callao slaving captains called here,in the sat at the.table.
, • He
shi
I now write, to make a false entry pp in g
wanted 200 men, but failed. He passed on to Atim, where
he got one of the principal chiefs on board with his wife
and gave them a good dinnerti,oo loiedothle.en,
t) producedt:th propertye bagsof
gold containing (as he said)
of the said chief if he would fill his ship for him with 200
slaves. The chief's eyes were now opened, To secure his
own safety, he said that he would consider of it. He got
ashore all right; but forbade his people to go. One luckless
wight swain off, little dreaming what he was doing. The
barquelsailed for Apia, where I saw her on the Bth of Feb.
last. She afterwards filled with poor captives. In April
last, Captain Nicholls, of the American whaler Rainbow,
saw her at anchor at Sunday Island. Through disease 130
had died, so that only 70 remained alive at that !•tsrsa,