Star.
London, England, 1831-07-19 00:00:00

No. 13,839.

HORRIBLE CA,

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The following account will be reed with asto-
nishment by those who have been for years contri-
buting large sums for the support of Missionaries
to preach the Gospel and extend the blessings of
civilization throughout the islands of the South Sea.
Unless the inhabitants are incurably vieloyi and in-
tractable—and the accounts of our voyages' give us
no reason to believe that they are so—those who
have been sent for their improvement and instruc-
tion must have lamentably neglected their duty.
The events we record are from the Tama:rim of
Jan. 28 1831.
_ _

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,are about to relate took place, is at the southern
extremity of the northern island, a beautiful coun-
try, possessing important rivers and harbours, and
every other natural advantage. The natives there
congregate in numbers of from 800 to 1000,1
under the authority of some influential individual,
who possesses, we apprehend a sort of legitimate
chieftainship. At that part of the northern island
to which we now refer, there are two of these so-
vereigns, the one is named Hecho, the other Ro-
bulloh. It does not appear that these names are
patronymic ; they appear to be rather titulatory,
inasmuch as the article 44 The" is always prefixed
to them. Thus they are designated as " The
Hecho," or " The Robulloh." As is the case in
all other parts of the world, Christian even more
so than heathen, the people are engaged in fre-
quent wars ; upon these occasions, all prisoners
who are taken, become not only slaves to the cap-
tors, but their lives are only held by the uncertain
tenure of the pleasure of the owner. The chief
Hecbo, has 600 or 700 of these unfortunate peo-
ple. Most of the chieftains of both islands have
paid more than one visit to Sydney, generally in
some one of the Missionary vessels, who are occu-
pied in an extensive, and it cannot but be a highly
profitable trade, conveying ftom these and the other
islands in the Pacific, cargoes of pork, cocoa-nut
oil, flax, and other articles.
When a ship anchors in any of the bays, the
chief, attended by a numerous body of his sect.
goes on board immediately. His first operation is
to examine the strength of the vessel, as respects
her means of offence or defence, and this not more
with a view of petty thieving, which is considered
a matter-of-course practice, but to the capture of
the vessel herself, if such appears to be practicable.
They appear to possess some of the very worst pro-
pensities with which the human race is afflicted.--
For example, as respects their food, they consider
human flesh to be the sweetest and most delicious'
of all possible food, So regardless are they of hu-
man life, that they are in the habit continually of
coolly murdering their slaves for the slightest fault.
Captain Briggs was witness to an instance of a
young female being put to death, merely for re-
fusing to perform some menial service required of
her, and he himself saved the lives of two young
men (who had run away from their owners for fear
of being murdered for some trifling offence), by
purchasing them for a few pounds of gunpowder
and some fish-hooks. It is not easy to explain the
peculiarly horrible passions and habits of this finely
formed race of people, by general description.
Perhaps the best method will be to relate some of
the circumstances which attended Captain Briggs'
late visit, from which the reader will be enabled le i
form a tolerably accurate judgment of the state of
things in genercl.
Hecho, the chief of whom we have spoken, is
a remarkably fine young man, of about 25 yore
old. He is six feet four or five inches in height,
and Perfectly well proportioned. He is the sou of
a chief who is spoken of as " The Payie," who
was taken to England some years ago, where having
received great attention, upon his return he declared
himself the enemy of all those of his country who
should attack any English vessel, or injure any
Englishman, of course beyond the mere practise of
thieving, which, as we have said, is the vocation
of these islanders. Some few years ago, a chief-
tain of the south-eastern coast had killed and eaten
Capt. Downie and the crew of the brig Samuel, a
vessel which had been trading there, bartering
muskets, powder, and balls, for flax and other
produce ; but being either over-confidential or un-
guarded, his vessel was captured, and himself and
crew eaten. The same people it was, who had
succeeded in taking a midshipman and a boat's crew
of his Majesty's ship Warspite, commanded by the
late Sir 3. Brisbane, who were killed and afterwards
eaten, as mere matter of course. To avenge these
atrocities thus committed upon Payie's friends and
allies, the English, that chief and the Robulloh,
went in 1822, with a strong body of their people,
and taking the former by surprise, they killed and
ate all they could find, destroying all before them
of the unfortunate clan, who, in their turn, fur-
nished food for their cannibal appetite. Glutted
with blood, but still hankering for more, they
landed upon Banks's Island with the same horrible
intent. But there, they met with a check. The
chieftain, who was called the Marinewie, was pre-
pared for their reception ; a battle ensued, in which
the invaders were defeated, with the loss of the
Payie, who, being taken by the Marinewie, was by
that chief killed and eaten, as was also an English-
man named Smith, who had joined the allies in
their predatory excursion. The Robulloh escaped,
and on his return to his native place, united with
the Hecho, the son of the Payie, who had succeeded
to his eaten father's throne, in the determination to
avenge the former disaster. Thus matters stood,
until about the middle of last year, when Captain
Briggs, in the Dragon, an iced ut the territory of
these allied Chieftains. Their first attempt was to
endeavour to induce him to accompany them in an
expedition which they had been for some time
preparing, against the Marinewie, promising him
that if he would join them therein, they would
furnish his ship with a full cargo of flax in return.

They by . _ ungkilful diplomatiste.
They urged that the Payie had been in England, and
was the friend and avenger of the English—that
the Marinewie, who ha& killed and miten-him, had
also killed and eaten more whiteAnen than say
other New Zealander whatever, and they promised
" subsidies" in return for the ntial salvias
which they well knew they shoal& Mein from a
commander and a vessel such as Capt. Briggs and
the Dragon. They did not howeier sectmed.—
Capt. Briggs peremptorily refused to be associated
in the horrid enterprise. Not so, however,
the commander of another grids§ veWel, which

happened just/hen to wire npiikilindieg valve.
She was a fine brig of three • tuaited tons,.
whose name, and that of the commander, we for-
bear for the present to insert. The two chiefs
agreed with this person, that his ship should con-
vey them and their people to the country of the
Marinewie, where the war was carried on to utter
extermination: On the 22th October of the last

year, the expedition sailed ; there was a fins lest
of war canoes, and the two chiefs, with about one
hundred picked warriors, were on board the Eng-
lish brig. Captain Briggs remained at the anchor-
age, procuring by the usual means of barter, a
cargo for his vessel. On the llth of November
the expedition returned, having been entirely suc-
cessful. The Marinewie had been taken by sur-

prise, his whole people destroyed, except such as
fled into the interior beyond the reach of pursuit,
and himself, his wife, and his daughter, a beauti-
ful girl of 15, taken prisoners. The captain of
the English vessel stated, that on their arrival at
Bank's Harbour, the Payie and the Robnlloh had
caused all their people to conceal themselves be-
low; that the Marinewie sent immediately on board
to negociate for the trading, which he, of course,
suppose was the object of the Englishman's
' val. He demanded two double guns, by way of
tribute to himself, for permission to open the trade.
This was granted. The trade commenced, and the
Marinewie, not suspecting the fate which awaited
him, confiding fully on the Englishman's honour,
went himself on board to visit hint. After be had

been seated in the cabin a short time, the Hach*

and Rebutloh jumped upon him, from their place
of concealment, as did their people upon all those
who had attended him on board, and seizing him
by the hair, explained to him his situation.
The scene which followed is too dreadful is
describe. Under the cover of the night, the .Ro-
bulloh, the Payie, and their men, landed from the
ship, and having succeeded in capturing the wife
and daughter of the Marinewie, they sent them on
board, and a work of death ensued, utterly unspeak-
able or indescribable, for the horrible cruelties which
were perpetrated. The whole population of the
place who did not escape were killed, except about
fifty, reserved to be taken back to be sacrificed at
the bloody feast of triumph which awaited their re-
turn. At day light in the morning, the victors were
seen actively employed in cutting up and preparing
for the steam-kettle the dead bodies of the slaugh-
tered victims of the night. The crew of the
vessel described the horrors which they witnessed as
beyond every thing dreadful. The whole of the day
was occupied in salting and packing in baskets,
beads and bodies to be conveyed back. Amongst
the victims was a fine young woman, near her ac-
couchement, who was cut open, her unborn infant
extracted, her head and part of ber body salted,
and the remainder, in the presence of the Captain,
officers, and the whole crew of the British ship,
given to the pigs ! !
On the 11th November,in the morning, the brig
having arrived with her cargo of human flesh,
living and dead, at about 11 e. m. preparations were
made for the triumphal landing. And here a pecu-
liar feature in the character of the New Zealanders
was exhibited. Ferocious as appears to be the
male character, that of the female appears in strong
contrast thereto. Not a single woman was on the
beach to receive either husband or lover (for such
there are even in the most savage state, and the
New Zealanders appear to be eminently susceptible
the tender passion), not a child to welcome its
parent, not a father to welcome his son. AU was
silence, and, except as respected the cannibal war-
riors, and the dead mutilated remains of their I
slaughtered victims, solitude. The prisoners were
landed and ranged, seated on the beach ; their
conquerors having brought on shore in baskets the
salted bodies of the victims of their ferocity.
Each basket is of sufficient size to hold a human
body cut up into pieces ; of these there were, ac-
cording to Captain Briggs's calculation, about one
hundred. The war dance then commenced. It is
the most frightful method of rejoicing, any idea of
which the humaa man mind can convey to itself.
The warriors entirely naked—their long black hair,
although matted with human gore, yet flowing par-
tially in the wind—in the left band a human head
—in the right a bayonetted musket, held by the
middle of the barrel. Thus, with a song, the
terrible expression of which can only be ima-
gined ,by being heard, did they dance round
their wretched victims—every now and again
approaching them with gestures threatening
death under its most horrible form or lingering
torture ! But they did not inflict it. None
of them were killed. All were apportioned
among the conquering warriors as slaves,
one old man add a little boy excepted, who were
sentenced to be sacrificed to their dmmon of yen-
geonce. Ihe feast was then prepared, at which
these two victims were to be killed and eaten.
It consisted of about one hundred baskets of po-
tatoes, and a sort of green vegetable of delicious
flavour, and equal quantities of whale blubber
and human flesh. Every thing being arranged,
the poor old man was brought forth horribly ac•
coutred for death, having affixed round his neck
the head of his son, whose body formed part of
the infernal banquet then exhibited. Here, for
the first time, to the disgrace of the female

. .
wives or Mothers, whose husbands or whose sons
had been in their turn killed and eaten, approached
the poor old man, and plucking the hair of his head
and his beard, pricking him with the teeth of some
fish or other animal, inflicted upon him every
posaible bodily torture, while th 6 inventions of their
4111,11Mmiacal countrymen, were doing their utmost
to agonise his mind ! Captain Briggs, who wit-
bussed all this, determined to save this poor man's
iVe and that of the boy, who was also to be sa-
graced, if such could be done by either force
az price. The boi was brought forth to die.
A a.sil ;NA the ass eittiaded ever his head, end was
about Umisave it in twain, when Capt. Briggs,
at aliasard which may be easily understood, seized
him, and by threats and entreaties, the risk of
which at such a time he cannot now contemplate
without shuddering, obtained the life of the boy
altogether, and that of the old man for the time !
The next day he was taken to another place, when
his doom was sealed with every circumstance of
horror and atrocity. The boy still lives. Cassia
Briggs paid the ransom of his life in muskets sad
gunpowder. He conveyed him in safety to his
ship, and he is now tere, in Hobart Town, grate-
fully acknowledging his obligation to the worthy
man who saved him from death.

In the meantime the bloody banquet went on,
the Hecho, the Robulloh, and the rest, devour-
ing the contents of the baskets we have described
with the greatest delight. The manner in which
the bodies had been salted, at nearly the hottest
season of the year, had been too imperfect to
prevent the process of decomposition from pro-
ceeding to so considerable an extent, that the
worms crawled from the putrid flesh as it was
devoured. It was a horrible sight. Capt. Briggs
had the curiosity to open one of the baskets which
was near him. It contained the bead and body of
a beautiful young female. One of the officers of
the ship who was with him had resolution enough
to dissect the breast away with his penknife; he
wrapped it up in a handkerchief, took it on board
the Dragon, put it into spirits, and presented it to
a gentleman in Hobart Town, in whose possession
it now is.
While this dreadful scene was going on, the Ma-
rinewie was confined in irons in the fore-cabin of
the English brig, of which we have spoken. On
the passage from Bank's Harbour to Cook's Strait,
this chieftain and his wife, well knowing the
dreadful tortures which awaited them from their
ferocious enemies, took an effectual method of pre-
venting their daughter from undergoing the suf-
ferings to which they knew she was destined :
they strangled her. The Captain then placed
both the Marinewie and his wife in irons to
prevent them also from destroying themselves.
They were landed on the 12th of November by
the Robulloh, and conveyed from the coast some
short distance into the interior. Capt. Brigewes
not able to ascertain their fate, but we uncle rated
that it was intended that after they had been dis-
patched with all the torture usual in such cases, the
heart of Marinewie should be sent to be eaten by
the Hecbo's mother, the widow of the Payie, wbo
had been eaten by the Marinewie, that the Robulloh
should eat his brains, the Hecho his eyes; the
Hecho's sister his tongue, and that the rest of his
body should be sent as presents to the Chiefs in the
interior.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS—JoLv 18.
The Loin CIIANCELLOS sat to hear Appeals at one
&Clock.

TUITOlelt DIVOICE BILL.
Counsel were beard on behalf of the petitioner in this case,
and witnesses examined.
Upon the motion of the Duke of SUSSEX, the further
consideration of the subject was postponed for three weeka,
the Lord Chancellor intimating that, unless some better evi-
dence were obtained, it would be needless to occupy more
time about the case.
The Assessed Taxes Composition Bill, and several pri-
vate bills, were brought up from the House of Con moos by
Mr. Bernal and others, and advanced a stage.
The Earl of HAREWOOD presented a petition from a
place in Yorkshire, in favour of a provision for the poor in
Ireland. The noble lord at the same time presented a pet'.
Lion from the same place, against the importation of Foreign
Corn.—Laid upon the table.
The Earl of RADNOR presented a petition from Gal-
way. praying foe the extension of the elective franchise
to the Roman Catholics. The noble Lord also presented a pe-
tition in favour of reform, from Macclesfield ; and for an al-
teratimain the game laws. from some other place.
The Duke of NORFOLK presented a petition from
Cork, praying for an extension of the grants for the educa-
tion of the poor in Ireland ; and from the King's County to
the same effect.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a petition
from Mayo, in favour of reform ; and another from Dreg.
beds, against a repeal of the Union.
The Marquis of SALISBURY presented a petition from
a society in Ireland, praying that some means might be
adopted for the amelioration of the poor of that country.
The Duke of RICHMOND observed, that a measure
upon the subject was under the consideration of his Majesty's
Government.
On the motion of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY,
the Order of the Day with respect to the Tithe Composition
Bill was proceeded with.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY. after some preli-
minary observations, observed that, since he had introduced
the measure, he had received a variety of information upon
the subject. He would rot have brought forward the
measure. had be not been urged to do so by the great body
of the clergy, who were as anxious as the tithe-payers that
some definite arrangement upon the subject might be mite
to. The object of the Bill was to remove the objections ex.
fisting at present to the tithe system, and to put a stop to
those scenes which were so frequently witnessed, when the
claim of the clergyman for his titbts was enforced. The
Right Reverend Prelate entered at length into the law re-
lating to tithes, as it at present stands, and the objects in.
tended to be accomplished by his measure. It was intended
by the bill to empower clergymen to enter into a composi.
don with parishes, and also to compound the tithes of pri.
vats lands, either for money or in kind, as the parties should
agree. The bill, in all other respects, resembled the ma.
sure which he had introduced last session. He had been
asked why be had not proposed perpetual commutation in.
stead of composition, but his answer was, that it would not
be possible for him to have introduced any measure for
periletual connotation that would be found satisfactory,
or that would be based upon ptineiples either of justice or
expediency. The Right Reverend Prelate th pointtd

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TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 19, 1831. PRIC F. SEYENPENCF
CANNIBALISM IN NEW !They were by no means unikilfnl diplomatists. !character, a few .women appeared. Some fel
ZEALAND. I They urged that the Payje had been in England, and I wives or Mothers, whose husbands or whose soi