The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-10-20
south Sea Islanders.

following account OF the evidence given
against the master of the D6phRe The
/ Daphne, of AZ tons register, cleared from
/ Brisbane on a voyage to the South Sea
Islands, having on board % natives, who
having served their term in that colony,
were to be returned TO their homes. She
had permit authorizing Ross levin to
collect 80 other natives for importation,
and there were forms of agreement to be
/ filed up in pursuance Of the provisions of
the Polynesian Laborer's Act. The whites
on board we're the captain, mate, steward,
two seamen. levin, (the agent and Stan
bridge; and there was q boats crew of
seven or eight Loyalty Islanders. STAN
bridge left at Tanna, and Pritchard there
Joined as supercargo of the vessel. She
proceeded to Mare. Tanna, and thence to
Sandwich Island, (Vate) at which last
named place she landed the Islanders
brought IRON Queensland. She next Wis
tied the Banks group, the islands Amota
Lava, Cana, Valua, and Star Island, and
then returned to Tanna, having on board
100 Polynesians Instead Of then shaping
her course for Brisbane, she went to the
Fits, anchoring at Leyuka, in the island
of 0valau. The Rosario was lying there,
on the Dist of April, when she entered,
and Captain Palmer. who was down among
the islands collecting evidence regarding
the kidnapping of natives, met the master
at the Office Of the Consul, (Mr. Thurston)
where he attended to report her arrival.
Without any hesitation, the ships papers
were produced, but there was no pas
senger list, and, in explanation thereof,
Pritchard, who was present. exhibited the
permit from the Queensland government,
and certain other papers required under
the Polynesian Laborer's Act. Among
these we're five forms purporting to be
agreements between 81 natives and Ross
levin, to go as laborers to Queensland,
having marks, signed by Mura, ian inter-
prefer but in the presence OF interested
parties, and not missionaries or other per-
sons. One of the forms had no date, and
other dates were wrong as compared with
the log. Captain Palmer inquired of the
master how it was that with q permit from
the Queensland government to take 30 la
borers or natives to that colony, the vessel
should be found three weeks dead beat to
windward at the Fits, with double the
number on board. In explaining this mat
ter, both the master and Pritchard stated
that on their arrival at Tarna they were
informed by Ross Levin that labor was
much wanted at FIJI, and that they would
get more for the natives there than at
Queensland. They said they were una
ware Of any irregularity in the proceeding,
and had no intention of acting improperly
in the matter.
On furthre examination of the papers, it
was found that there were four documents
to be re-engagements, but sign
ed, with slight exception, by the same
interested parties. These Heterogeneous,
(which did not agree with the engage
ments) were that certain of the Polyne-
SLAMS were, in consideration of wages and
TO serve Ross Levin as laborers.
for term, at the end of which, they were
to be returned to their homes. Although
the master and Pritchard stated that the
whole of the re-engagements were made
on the return to Tanna, they were dated
at different times and at various islands
Captain Palmer and the Consul went on
board, and in the captains description of
the vessel, he said if he had found her
empty, he should have said she was fitted |
up to carry pigs or sheep. She had a
large, open main hatchway, with two rows
Of shelves or platforms below, running
round the bulkhead on each side, the low |
ar one being about six inches from the |
kelson. The width between the two ran
yes was about two feet four inches. She |
bad extra water-carrying capacity. an ex-
ira galley, and with some few exceptions. |
-allied with descriptions he had read of |
African slavers. There were no irons or
ron gratings. He found 100 natives on
board, and at least one-third were stark |
naked, and the others having only dirty
bits of rags about them. The space was
80 small that they looked like so many
rows perched about the hatchway. The
rms and ammunition consisted of eight |
and about thirty pounds of gun
powder, revolver, then ready for use)
md small number of percussion caps.
The interpreter had been left at Tanna,
md there was no one on board who could
communicate with the natives, so that
Capt. Palmer could obtain no information
Is to the mode in which they we're brought
IN board. The ship under the circumstan-
,es, were very clean.
Lieutenant Bingham, of the Rosa, 10,
vas told by the master of the Daphne,
hat he was going to take fifty natives to
Brisbane from the New Hebrides. and that
1t Tanna they were induced to take one
hundred natives to the Fits, as not only
vas there better market there, but they
'ould convey two passengers per ton,
While they could only take one per ton to
Brisbane. This representation was made
o them by Ross levin, who was described
o them as an agent, having a station at
Tanna, but as being there, there, and eve
ywhere." The vessel was seized, and the
natives, who were landed at 0valau by the
cutters, were placed under
he charge of the Consul.