The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-03
THE FEEJEES.
Proposal Of Sale Of the Islands to the
United States.
Extent, Government and Re-
sources Of the Territory.
Converted Cannibals, Missions
ries and Warriors.

Proposal to Sell the Feejee Islands Group to
the United States-ResOurces and Present
Condition Of the Territory-Coming Crusade
Against Canniballsm ind Idol WOrship-The
King at War.
SYDNEY, N. 8. W., May 80, 1885,
Another opportunity has now been afforded to Mr..
Seward to acquire 'fresh fields and pastures new'
on behalf Of the United States government. The
Prime Minister OF King Thakombau, Mr.. G. Fl. Hare.
mas proposed that the American government snail
not only take possession OF the three islands, which
Ny the failure Of the Yuma Vau to conform to the
stipulatons OF the mortgage now legally belong to
It, but that 1t shall In addition obtain by purchase
the remaining islands Of the Feejee group Under
these circumstances some particulars to the pre-
sent condition, government resources and possible
value Of the territory may neither be unwelcome
NOR uninteresting.
The Feejeean group consists OF a number Of islands
situated to the northeast Of Australia and probably
of volcanic origin the same New Zealand and a
great many Of the other islands In the Pacific ocean,
the largest OF hem VIII Lew, containing altogether
about fifty thousand Inhabitants. The soil is singu-
darby rich and fertile and almost all the productions
OF the tropical and temperate zones can be raised
without difficulty. At present the produce OF the
Feejees consists mainly OF yams taro breadfruit ba
nanas potatoes, sugar cotton, lines, oranges and
the sake Of the Oil they yield, which finds ready
market in the principal Australian ports. The yams
are especially nnesmany Of them weighing as much
as sixty and seventy pounds Every year the white
planters introduce new crops, all of which thrive in
q manner almost magical. During the last few years
very respectable trade has sprung up between the
Feejees and the Australias and New Zealand in
lous kinds Of agricultural produce-sugar cotton,
oranges and cocoanut oil being the principal articles
The King owns small schooner which sails constantly
between Sydney and his own islands and there are
also several private firms engaged in the trade.
The King. however, enjoys q monopoly of the cocoa
nut OIL trade.
Until about twelve fifteen years ago the Feejeeans
were all pagans and had established for themselves
an extensive but by means enviable reputation
as cannibals. To crafty their passion for human
0esh the various tribes were constantly engaged in
intestine warfare the object OF the strife and the
ward Of victory being not much to establish the
supremacy OF particular chief as to furnish them
selves with the human materials for cannibastic
feast. The Feejees, however, frequently visited
by whaling ships, and some American citizens
erected some bec'ses de sheds and storehouses
for the convenience OF American whalers. These
buildings were about fourteen years ago destroyed
by the natives, who also murdered and doubtless
subsequently ate the crews OF two American whaers
lying at the time or the station. The American gov
eminent preferred a claim for compensation and Il
was ultimately agreed that s45, 900 should be paid
niitted
Just about the same period the Feejees became an
object OF missionary M enterprise and shortly after.
with his tribe who occupied several Of the smaller is
dands and the coast OF VIII Lew, the largest Of the
group were converted to Christianity and formally
nounced the worship OF idols and Of course also the
heather luxury OF man eating Since this time the
prosperity OF the Islands has rapidly increased, and
They are now partially civilized number Of whites
have settled on the island and have developed to
considerable extent the natural resources OF the SOIL
"A great part OF the territory OF Thakombau is now
mapped OF into cotton and sugar plantations, most
OF the planters being Australians There Is also In
che island OF Levuka the headquarters Of the King
and his seat Of government i0urishing little town
called Ovaau, which boasts a hotel and a number OF
is British Consul also stationed in this island and
recently gentleman has been sent there from sgd
the plantations are worked chiefly by imported
labor, though the natives are also employed. Most
OF the laborers are South Sea Islanders, who bind
themselves to the planter for term Of years-gene-
rally three or ive-0n the same plan that adopted
On Queensland. Some very ugly stories are current,
however to the treatment OF these men by the
planters, and the relation existing between them is
said to practically amount to that between master
and slave. ThaKombau turns deaf ear to the COM
plants OF the laborers and invariably acquiesces in
}the conduct OF the planters, however unjust and
bltrary It is certain that there is good deal OF
that two planters residing at Tavona had lost twen-
|tyseven OF their hands, who had seized small
set sail. Two cutters were sent In pursuit OF the
runaways and the vessel, but without success. AS
BIT seems as though they must have had q strong
tmotive to induce them to lose money they had
nfrequent thing for planter to be murdered by his
employees; Last year the planters succeeded In ex.
porttng about two hundred Thousand dollars worth
of produce, and they have kept back large quantity
kof sugar canes IN anticipation Of sugar crushing
company being shortly established at Levuks. The
Quenoe OF the unusually heavy rains most Of the
planters on the Rewa river having suffered heavily
The government Of King Thakombau B, o. might
oe expected ga very primitive and paternal charsc.
dividual fiat the foreign and domestic policy Of the
lnation. but also directs the employment Of his
hs% the no snd
Woes Of bis subjects. But his rule, however
despotic In theory, Is among his own PEG.
to %S the welfare Of Ms with ne hs
utmost diligence and reward them with great I'm
partially In exact proportion to the value OF their
services He has as his chief counsellor, his prime
minister IN fact, an Engishman, named Hare, who
pas made already in very few years, considerable
Ion the Rewa, but spends most of his time with the
King, and occasionally pays visit TO sydney to
Tor his cocoa nut OIL Charging probably pretty high
commission. Hare also sells the land TO the white
planters and conducts the diplomatic correspond
That Thakombsu has authorized him to make the
Ofer already alluded to, to the United States Consul
But at the same time Hare Ia now actively engaged
in negotiations with the company whose indenture
give below, and 10 Is probable that he has not yet
quite made up his mind 10 which OF the two plans
OF solving the American difficulty will be personally
most profitable TO him. Possibly his only object In
making the oner may have been TO gain time.
Ihakombau has just declared war against the tribes
OF the interior and the last ship from Levuka brought
full news OF the preliminaries OF the expedition
The ostensble ground q quarrel Is to bring the
interior tribes Justice for the murder Last wear OF
Mr.. Baker, missionary, and his seven assistant
native teachers, who had established q mission
station on the Doughboy Lew Rewa river. These
eribes are stu cannibas, and1they were probably
induced 70 commit the murder by Q weakness. In
eionary, roast and boiled.h The King also declares
shat he has gone TO war to abolish forever the
Feejee idol worship and man eating and to secure BY
3orce OF arms the supremacy OF the Gospel OF Peace
Hne missionaries (of whom there are two, another
gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Tyson, having taken the
Gouranad In fbia cruaade q laaaf hsro