The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-14

THE CONVERTED CANNIBALs BACKsLID-
ING.-The following account of the origin of
the trouble on Ovalau Is written by a Mr..
Murray: Early in May, party OF the Levo-
nj, some thirty women and two men were
discovered out fishing by Thakombau's men,
and were attacked by them. Five of the par
ty were killed. This inglorious fight is the
only one that that has occurred up to this
tine. The great topic OF conversation here.
and one which, to my mind, is of paramount
importance, is the present warlike aspect of
the natives-not, as yet, toward the white
population, but among themselves. At the
back of this island, and only a few miles from
the beach, is powerful tribe known as the
Levoni. On the north end OF the island re-
side another tribe; both being tributary to
Thakombau. These two tribes appear to
have had some differences, and had fought,
the particulars of which were made known to
the king by a chief named Cornelius. Upon
obtaining this information, Thakombau sent
over to the LavOni men, requesting them to
desist from lighting. The reply was that they
would kill the individual who had informed
him of their doings, and who they soon found
out to be Cornelius. / should state, that up
TO this time the people OF all the tribes on
Ovalau had professed christianity, and Cor
nelius was said to be most exemplary and
pious man, well known to the missionaries as
a native teacher. Nevertheless, upon Corne-
Illus making his appearance among them he
was instantly clubbed, his body mutilated,
and then inferred. Two days after his inter-
ment the body was exhumed in accordance
with an old custom, and a "man oven" was
constructed and heated with red hot stones.-
Into this the body of poor Cornelius was
thrust and baked like pig. And then bar
barian feast was held by these beastly canni-
balls, who devoured every portion OF the re-
mans, picking the bones clean, and reserving
them as trophies But this only whetted
their appetite for human flesh, and they next
made another onslaught on their neghbors at
the north end of the island, and have killed,
understand, about thirty, all of whom, it is
believed, have been eaten. Maafu, who re-
sides at Iona Iona, and is chief OF great
renown (the present owner of the yacht
Xarita,) having some antipathy to Thakom-
bau, takes the part it is said, of the Levoni
cannibals, and has supplied them with pow
der, ball aud muskets. Meanwhile Thakom-
bau, with the chivalry which is characteristic
of these powerful FIJI chiefs, sent to the Le-
voni to tell them TO put up their war fences
and build their forts, as it was his intention,
SO soon as he got his army together, to come
over TO them and fight them. His majesty is
now making vast preparations for this assault.
| Almost every day from remote parts OF his
| domain war canoes full OF fighting men are
arriving at Levuka, and taking up their resi-
dences at the native villages; and there must
| be now some thousands of them congregated
| here.- Fighting, indeed, has actually COM
menced. The Levoni are said TO be enscone
| ed in an impregnable fortifcation upon
rock. Yet it is also said they believe they
| will be vanquished by Thakombau, who, nc
doubt, will overcome them and put to death
all the ringleaders, making prisoners of the
rest, who it is anticipated, will be sold to the
| planters. 1t must be remarked that these
FIJI 5elligerents are fully armed with musket.
| (many breech-loaders of the newest pattern
and revolvers, besides their spears and clubs
and ale most excellent shots. Bat they arr
not drilled, and their warfare is purely of the
| guerilla kind.-HonOlulu Gazette.