The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-08-29
CANNlBALISM OF THE NEW ZEA-
LANDERS

r tute such relations have been universally re-
D jected, and much has been written to prove III,
$ existence of so hidcO Is propensity. /
was my lot to behold il in all its horrors! On,
morning about II o'clock, after had Just re
, turned from a long walk, Capt Duke informed
me he had heard, from very good authority
(though the natives wished il to be kept a pro
found secretly ihat, in the adjoining village, a
female slave, named Matowe had been put Ia
death, and that the people were, at that very
time preparing her flesh for cooking At the
same time he reminded the of a circumsia nee
which had taken place the evening before
Atoi had been paying us visit, and, when 90.
ing away, he recognized girl whom he said
was slave that had run away from him he
immediately seized hold of her and gave her
IN charge to some of his people. The girl had
oeen employed IN carrying wood for us Atoi's
laying claim to her hnG caused US no alarm for
her lille, and We had thought more on the
SUBJECT but now. to my surprise and horror
hcard this poor girl was the victim they were
preparing for the OVEN Capt. Duke and nv.
! sell were resolved to witness this dreadful scene
We therefore kept our information as secret n,
possible, well knowing that if we had manifest
cd our wishes they would have denied the
whoie affair We set out, taking a circuitous
route towards the village !; and, being well ac-
qnainted with the road, We came upon them
suddenly, and found them in the midst of their
aoomnablc ceremonies. On spot of rising
GROUND, Just outside the village, we saw man
preparing native oven, which is done in the
following SIMPLE manner: A hole is made in
! the ground and hot stones are put within it,
and then all is covered up close As we an
preached we saw evident signs OF the murder
/ winch had been perpetrated bloody mats were
stfewed around and boy was standing by
them actually laughing he put his finger To-
haH I'D
approached the bush and there discovered hu
man head. My feelings Of horror NAV DO imar.
med as ! recognized the features of The unfor.
tnnate girl had seen forced from our yillage
The preceding evening! We ran towards The
hre, and there stood man occupied in a way
lew would wish to see. He was preparin- the
four quarters of huuan body for feast the
arge bones having been taken out. were thrown
aside, and the flesh being compressed, he was
IN the act OF forcing ii into the oven While
we stood transfxed by this terrible sipht, a larye
dog, which lay before The fire, rose up, seized
the bloody head, anG walked off with ii into the
bushes; no doubt TO hide it there for another
meal! The man completed his task with The
most perfect composure, telling US at the same
'ime mat the rcpast would not be ready for
some hours Here stood Capt Duke and NV
sell, both witnesses of scene which MANY t1ay
eiers have related, and their relations have in
yarlaoly been treated with contempt indeed,
me Veracity OF those who had the temerity 10
'e'ate such Incredible events has been cvery
where questioned. In this instance il was no
warriors flesh 10 be eaten; there was no enc.
nvs blood to drink in order to iniuria,e them
they had no revenge to crafty no plea could
lney make OF their passions, having been rous. |
cd ny battle nor the excuse that they eat their
enemies to complete their triumph This was an
action of unjustifable cannibalism. Atoi. the
chlei, who had given orders for this cruel feast
had, only the night before, sold us four n;gs for
lew pounds of powder; so that he had not
Duke and myself had consulted with each 9th. |
er, We walked into the village determined TO
charge Atoi with his brutality. Atoi received
us IN his usual manner and his handsome open |
countenance could not be imagined TO belong |
10 monster so savage as he had proved him |
self to be. shuddered at beholding the unusu-
al quantity Of potatoes his slaves were pIepar.
ing'to eat with this Internal banquet We talk.
ed cooly with him on the subject, for as we
could not prevent what had taken place, we
were resolved TO learn, if possible, the whole
particulars. Atoi at first, tried TO make us be-
leve he knew nothing about it, and that it was
only meal for his slaves; but we had ascer-
lained it was for himself and his favorite com.
panions. After various endeavors to conceal
the fact Atoi frankly owned that he was only
waiting till the cooking was completed 10 par
take of it. He added. that knowing the horror
we Europeans held these feasts in, the natives
were always most anxious 10 conceal them from
us, and he was very angry that it had come to
our knowledge but, as he had acknowledged
The fact lie had no objection to talk about it
He told US that human flesh required greater
number OF hours to cook Than any other that
if not done enough, it was very tough, but
when sufficiently cooked it was as tender as
paper He held in his hand piece of paper
which no tore in illustration of his remark.
He said the flesh then preparing would not BIO
| ready till next morning but one of his sisters
whispered IN my that her brother was de-
ceving us, az they intended feasting al sunset.
We inquired why and how he had murdered the
poor girl. He replied that running away from
him to her own relations was the only crime
He then took outside his village, and show.
cd us the post 10 which she had been tied, and
laughed TO think how no had cheated her.
For" said he, :" | told her only meant to
give her a fogging, but | fred and shot her
through the heart" My blood run cold at this
relation, and looked with feelings of horror al
the savage while he related it. Shall be cred
tied when again affirm, that he was not only
handsome young man, but mild and genteel in
his demeanor' He was man we had admit
ted TO our table, and was general favorte of
us all, and tho poor victim to his bloody cruelty
was pretty girl of abou, sixteen years of age
While listening 10 this frightful detail wo felt
sick almost to iainlng. We left Atoi and again
sirolcd towards the spot where this disgusting
mess was cooking Not native was now ne ar i; ;
hotfetd steam kept occasionally bursting from
! the smothercd mass; and the same dog we had
seen with the head, now crept from beneath the
bushes aud sneaked towards the village 10 add
! To the gloominess Of the whole large hawk
rose heavily from the very spot where The poor
victim had been cut to pieces NV friend and
| sat gazing on this melancholy place it was
lowering, gusty day, and the moaning Of the
wiEd through the bushes, as il swept round the
hill on which we were, seemed IN unison with
our feelings Aher some time spent in con.
templating the miserable scene before us, dur.
ing which we gave full vent to tho most pas
sionate EXPLANATIONS Of disgust, we determined
TO spoil this intended feast this resolution
formed, we rose to execute il. ran off 10 our
beach, leaving Duke on guard, and, collecting
all the white men could, informed them of
what had Unopened, and asked them if they
would assist in destroying the oven, and bury
ing tho remains of tho girl; they consented,
aud each having provided himself with shov-
ell or a pitkaxe, we repaired in body 20 the
spot. Atoi and his friends had bv some means
been Informed OF our intention, aud they camo
out 10 prevent il. He used various threats Ia
deter us, and seemed highly indignant but as
none of his followers appeared wing to come
to blows, and seemed ashamed that such q
transaction should have been discovered by us
.aa-