Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-23

PICTURESQUE AND POETIC CASNIBALs-How
TREY EAT rHBIR ESRMEs.-The nineteenth
century has been carried to the islands Of the
Pacific by the Missionaries, and one Of the best
OF our w estern exchanges is the Honolulu
Advertiser. Its principal contents are whaling
reports and advertisements Of commercial
and marine character, but we find the follow
ing In a late number. Think of sending a re-
porter To a cannibal battle and feast It's very
Heraldish:
Hanayeye Valley, which lies opposite the
Bay, does not resemble our Hawaiian vallies.
Ii is not gentle slope between two hills, but
a rayine with steep sides, apparently split Out I
q from the mountains. 1t is, however, one of the
largest, most beautiful and productive Of the
many glens OF Fatuhiva. The valley has ne
Gently been the scene Of a protracted war be-
tween the neighboring tribes One of these
contests lasted nine days, at the close Of which
the bodies of the captured dead were eaten.
This eannibal custom prevails throughout the
group.
1hey do not have a great feast over these
human bodies, as is generally supposed to be
the case, but the body is cut 10 pieces on the
battle field. and each warrior takes his piece
sn arm, joint, rib, according to his merit
raises il on his gun over his shoulder, and
marches home. There he calls his relations
together, and they devour the iesh-soms cook
ing il in slices like pork. but most eat il raw
The motive which induces them to eat the
bodies Of their enemies is revenge; 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, then IL eliminates in the fendish act Of
eating human aesh, and we may easily imagine
the hequIyering heart that cringes and CRATES be-
tween their bloody teeth, is the sweetest morsel
that q heather warrior can taste. This scannibal-
ism Is confined mostly to the older natives The
younger people appear TO be ashamed Of the
practice and il is probable that before many
years il will be extinct among the Maranesas
This famous battle Of Hanaveve, Keketa tells
us, lasted nine days. 1t consisted rather of
skirmishes, though shots enough were fred to
have killed q regiment. Itis quite likely that
these simple warriors did their firing with
ewes shut, as during the entire contest, but one
or two persons were killed. The heather party
On this terrible scare entered into a compac,
with thoiT eonauerers, in which hostages were
exchanged, but those Of the vanquished rar
away. from fear OF being dsvoured, perhaps
and returned TO their tribe, who Immediately
In this most secret manner, took bag and bag
gage from the soil of their ancestors, anC
made hasty retreat 10 the Island OF Tab uaka
The yictors having gained more than they an
ticipated, but just what they desired, took pos
session and divided the spoil. This contes
points Of approach to the valley, one by tn
mountain pass and one by the sea. Never be
fore had the enemy been able to force this mar
row psssage-a fastness of nature. They ha'
been forced 10 steal through an, aperture wor
by the waves through the northern point Q
the island, from whence they discharged thei
. firearms upon their enemies and retreatsd.
is now said that the -exiles are home sick, tina
they desire to return, and that there are thos