The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-11-26
CRUISE Of tbt "aloruim Star" to the Hlar-
qufsas.-Nu. 8.
THE LEE OF

Leaving the Island of Hivaoa, which has been
selected as the future principal station of the Mission
to the Marquesas, the packet Morning Star sailed,
with the addition to our number Of Kekela, for the
Island Of Fatuhiva, where a portion of the Mission
was still located. At an early morning hour, when
Venus and Jupiter, almost in conjunction, were shin
ing with a brightness that nearly equaled an early
moon, the island looms up before us as a dark, bar
rem rock, but as the morning sun shines over its
ridges, it reveals a sight truly magnificent. And as
our vessel approaches still nearer, and sails along the
lee, green valleys open to view, with vegetation from
the waters edge to the highest mountain summit.
Before us lies the deep bay of Hanaveve, over whose
surface glides the swallow of the sea, and in whose
waters the unwary porpoise gambols.
Hanaveve Valley. which lies opposite the bay, does
not resemble our Hawaiian valleys. 1t is not a gen.
tie slope between two hills, but a ravine with steep
sides, apparently split out from the mountains. 1t
is, however, one of the largest, most beautiful and
productive of the many glens Of Fatuhiva. This val
ley has recently been the scene of a protracted war
between the neighboring tribes. One of these con-
tests lasted nine days, at the close of which the bodies
of the captured dead were eaten. This cannibal Gus
tom prevails throughout this group. They do not
have a great feast over these human bodies, as is gen.
orally supposed to be the case, but the body is cut to
pieces on the battlefield. and each warrior takes his
piece-an arm, a joint. a rib, a0sprding to his
merit-raises it on his gun over hh Hhoulder, and
marches home. Here he calls his relat IS together.
and they devour the fesh,-some cooking in slices
like pork, but most eat it raw. The MOI We which
induces them to eat the bodies of their enemies is re-
veage they feel that their revenge is not satisfied
until they have tasted of their blood and flesh. When
their hatred, anger and revenge are at the highest
point, and their enemy lies dead before them, thenit
eliminates in the fiendish act of eating human flesh,
and we may easily imagine that the quivering heart
that cringes and CRATES between their bloody teeth is
the sweetest mOrsel that a heather warrior can taste.
Nhs. 4pn =. -~xy- Al
tives- The younger people appear to be ashamed of
the practice, and it is probable that before many
years it will be extinct among the Marquesans.
This famous BATH of Hanaveve, Kekela tells us,
lasted nine days. It consisted rather of skirmishing,
cough shots enough were fired to have killed a regi-
ment. 1t is quite likely that these simple warriors
did their firing with eyes shut. as during the entire
contest but one or two persons were killed. The
beaten party in this terrible scare entered into q
compact with their conquerors, in which hostages
were exchanged, but those of the vanquished ran
away, (fnom fear of being devoured. ~perhaps.) and
returned to their tribe, who immediately, in the most
secret manner, took "bag and baggage = from the
soil of their ancestors, and made a hasty retreat to
the Island Of Tahuaka. The ~victors, having gained
more than they anticipated, but just what they de
sired, took possession and divided the spoil. This
contest was an ancient feud. There were but two
points Of approach to the valley, one by the mountain
pass and one by sea. Never before had the enemy
been able to force this narrow passage fastness Of
nature. They had been forced to steal through an
aperture worn by the waves through the northern
point Of the island, from whence they discharged
their firearms upon their enemies and retreated. 1t
is now said that the exiles are home-sick, that they
desire to return, and that there are those of the con-
querors who would welcome them back.
Another valley, 30 little that it would seem as If
no one could covet it, was pointed out to us, inacces-
sible except by sea, yet it had its story of aggression
1t had thirty inhabitants, who repulsed every attack
of their more numerous invaders. By land, perpen-
dicular cliffs rendered it nearly impregnable. De-
termined to conquer, the enemy let their warriors
down the bare face of the rock, the rope swinging
them in its descent, as if they were only bird-hunters
on the Shetland Islands. I'm doomed men had
reached the bottom, whenu Inhabitants of the val
ley arose and slaughtered every one of the invaders.
This was sufficient since then their enemies had let
them alone.
The sMorning Star is now in o calm. Her white
nag. however, has been seen from the distant ridge
which forms the northern boundary Of Omoa Bay.
and the Chisf who protects Raisci mo, has come on
to So the Gtrangers. Kekela greets him Hardly
minute a4ter he Is on board, and is informed enc no
ton Of the Chief, who Immediately lays . taboo on
the lpilfering propensities Of his followers. IS his
canoe was the first that reached us, and the best also
that caane of to us, or that We It any time saw while
at the islands, it may be not uninterestingt to describe
It, though to HaWaiians the description may not DC
new. Il uAs from ffteen to twenty fest long, and
had . beak or PROV six more in length, ending ms
rude carving, which mightbe mistaken for . god, os
that the MArquesans worShip no images The PRIV
was . mere ornament In war, however, it's used =
dash against the opposing canoe. The outrigger w.
very rude, c~on1i6ting Of three common straight ma
stickst Arranged It right singles to each other s%a
row, ru11 geGkved, and ended in : small pr9)ecuA'
Wk70k - N fnfrnauotion a the Vat9.