Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-11-06
Frog "BlaekseOOd's .Nagazins. +"
canRibaNsn in New zealand

SahalDahsm IN New zealand.
The history Of New Zealand, however, places
on record the fact Of people indulging in svs.
tematic cannibalisn, accompanied in recent times
with the interesting fact, that the systematic
Icannibal has been found capable Of high civil
ization. Cooke took pains TO prove the existence
lof the practice both by inaiiiry and experiment
Not content with turning over the remains sf
hannibal feasts, he got a new Zealand boy to
Exhibit the propensifyoon his own deck. Th5
many notices and statements which other travel
ers have preserved are but general acknowl-
Iedgment of what Cooke so distinctly proved.
But it is in a now forgotten book called "a Mar
rative Of a Nine Months residence in New
Zealand ingl827, by. Augustus Earle, y that we
find the most sufficient, clear, unvarnished mar
rative Of such banquet. Mr.. Earle was an
artist, and wanderer in several unfrequented
Icoentries. Although he had thus many things
to relate, which could only be taken at his own
word, his unquestioned character for truthfulness
obtained credence for them. The cannibal feast
of which he gives minute dessription--too min
ute to be pleasant--took place on the body Of a
lfemale slave, killed under Circumstances which,
in this country, and without looking on the act
as merely supplying the market with butcher
meat, we would consider gross treaehery. We
shall spare our readers the more minute parts OF
the description which, in their intense truthful-
ness,aar really an unpleasant piece Of readine.
but we are desirous to resuscitate portion Of
the account which Shows the spirit in which the
perpetrators acted spirit of utilitarian cool
ness and system, exhibiting no ehullitiOns of the
unrestrained savage nature, but on the contrary,
accompanied, as we shall see, with great self
restraint, shown under circumstances of provoca-
ton and dsappointInent
''Here stood Captain Duke and myself, both
witnesses of a scene which many travellers have
related, and their relations have invariably been
treated with contempt; indeed, the yeracity Of
those who had the temerity to relate such incred-
ble events has been everywhere questioned.
In this instance it was no warriors flesh to be
eaten; there was no enemy's blood to drink, in
order to infuriate them. They had no revenge
to crafty; no plea could they make Of their pas
sions having been reused by battle, nor the ex-
euse that they eat their enemies TO perfect their
triumph. This was an action of uniustifable
eannibalism. Atoi, the chief, who had given
orders for this cruel feast, had only the night
before sold us four pigs for few pounds Of
powder; so he had not even the excuse Of want
Of food. After Captain Duke and myself had
consulted with each other, we walked into The
village, determining to charge Atoi with his
brutality.
"Atoi received us in his usual manner; and his
handsome open countenance could not be imae.
ined to belong TO so savage a monster as he had
proved himself to be. | shuddered at beholdipg
the unusual quantity Of potatoes his slaves were
preparing TO eat with this internal banquet. We
talked coOlly with him the subject; for, as we
could not prevent what had taken place, we were
resolved to learn (if possible) the whole partic-
ulars. Atoi at first tried to make us believe he
knew nothing about it, and that il was only
meal for his slaves; but we had asceFtainedoi it
was for himself and his fayorite companions
After various endeavors to conceal the fact Atoi
frankly owned that he was only waiting till the
cooking was completed to partake of il. He ad-
lded that, knowing the horror we Europeans held
these feasts in, the natives were always most
anxious to conceal them from us, and he was very
1angry that it ad-come TO our knowledge; but, as
lhe had acknowledged the fact, he had no objec-
ltion to talk about it. He told us that human
flesh required greater number of hours to cook
than any other: that, IL not done enough, il was
very tough, but when sufficiently cooked il was
as tender as paper. He held in his hand piece
of paper, which he tore in illustration of his re-
mark. He said the flesh then preparing would
not be ready till next morning. but one Of his sis
tiers whispered in my ear that her brother was
ldeceiving us, as they intended feasting at sunset
''We inquired why and how he had murdered
the poor girl. He replied, that running away
from him to her own relations was her only
crime. He then took us outside his village, aud
showed us the post to which she had been tied,
and laughed to think how he had cheated her:
| I''For," said he, 81 told her intended to give
her fogging; but fred, and shot her through
the heartl" My blood ran cold at this relation.
land looked with feelings oihorrar at the sav-
, age while he related it. Shall ] be credited
when l again affirm. that he was MOI only young
, man, but mild and genteel in his deneanouxe
! He was man we had admitted to our table, and
I was general fnyoritc with US ali; aed the poor
{ Victim TO his bloody cruelty was pretty girl Of
+ about sixteen years Of oge!
1 ''AfteT some time spent in ppntemplaiiuE the
: miserable saenO before US, daring whicilwe
: gave ftdl vent b the most passiopsts exclsma.
: lions Of disgust we determincd 20 spoil thls il.
: tended feast; this resolv,ion formed we rose q
execute it. Iyan of 10 our beach, lsarilgs Duke
: on guard, and collecting an the white men
i could, i informed them 81 what had happeAod
y and asked them IL they would assist IN destroy,
ing the oven, and burying the remains og III,
q girli they consented, ami sssh having provides
~ (coscnrDrpoE oE FopSrH rAsE.)