The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-05
ON, May "a. M.-Sugars, 3os. yd.
This Afternoou,s tluotatiOns.
FIJI.
The Massacre of December knsr.


Although little four menths have
elapsed since the dreadful massacre spoken of
below occurred, still we have but now received
details of it. The news comes from Rewa
Fiji, is dated December 16, and runs as follows:
The following account of the recent outrages
in Fiji is given in letter dated Rewa Fiji, De-
cember 16:-"A fearful tragedy has lately been
enacted on the plantation of Messrs. Burt IL Un-
derwood, Nadroga, Viii Lovu For some time
past the heather mountaineers had been trouble
some, lying in wait for the coolies, and beating
them Whenever they could catch them in the
forest; and so severely that two of these unfor-
tunate men died from the effects of the savage
assaults committed upon them Four more
also were poisoned and to such lengths
did the Fijians go that Burt a. Under
wood gave the coolies arms, and told
them to defend themselves when attacked. The
result was fight on one occasion, when the
natives came down upon the coolies as they
were cutting horse fodder. Shots were eX-
changed, and one Fijian fell badly wounded
Whereupon his companions fled to the hills
The planters now made themselves ready to meet
the attack which they well knew the natives
would make upon them. Guards were set around
the premises at night and look out kept bv
day, whereby several schemes for burning the
houses were frustrated. At length, one rainy
day Underwood being in the cotton plantation
with a man named Dick. the overseer and the
coolies who were at their usual work, and Burt
being at the house attending to the shipment of
q lot of cotton, n strong party of Fijians were
seen ON lne river oank ut some distance from the
house, waving flags of native cloth, and shouting
abusive words Ofthese Burt took no notice for he
knew the FiJians too well to fear Immediate
mischief from those who stood still afar off and
shouted. But these were only decoy to draw
his attention away from war party, witch was
even then stealing upon him through the stand
ing cotton on the other side of the plantation
from where the coolies were working. Hearing
noise at last he went out of the house and
found himself face to face with some three hun-
dred naked, painted savages, who soon had him
down in their midst beating him sayagely, An
other man called Cammeline who was in the
house with him at the time shared the same fate
Underwood and the coolies were set upon by
another party, who killed four of the Tanna men.
and wounded Underwood and Dick who. how.
ever, escaped, after shooting two or three of the
enemy.
The Fijians then helped themselves to eyery-
thlng which they thought would be of any use
after which they burned the houses to the
ground together with 10000 pounds of Sea
Island cotton; in fact, the whole crop, which
had been picked and gathered into the cotton
mousse they speared and ate six horses, seye-
raj cows, some fifty pigs, sixty goats the four
lanna men, two little girls, the children (half
caste) OF one of the planters. Cammeline is not
expected TO survive. Several other disturbances
nave taken place, and the planters think they
have cause to fear that there is n widesDread
plot against them. They have. therefore sent
petition to Maafu the Tongan chief calling
him to their aid, rs the Fiiian authorities
are powerless to defend them against such out
RACES