The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-12-04
EEJ1 CANNHs5ALS,
A Pleasant Picture and One Not
SO Pleasant.

Noticing the departure from San Fran
cisco for Levuka OF a brig of one hun
dred tons burden, owned by Fl. S. Ful-
Ter, her captain, and S. A, St. John, two
veteran residents OF the FIJI Islands, the
Alta Gays:
Captain Fuller is the ollest Ameri-
can settler, having gone there from SyG-
ney over twenty years ago Here he
also conveyed his English wife, and here
he has large family Of children who
are truly native and TO the manner
born During their long residence in
these far off isles, the above-named en-
terprising spirits have been actively en-.
gagged in both marine and agricultural
pursuits They now own adjoining cot
ton plantations, which are being success
fully and profi,ably cultivated. Their
craft just about 10 sail is to be employ
ed in this business, and more particular
ly in transporting laborers and others
from distant groups to Levuka, for no
work can be coaXed or forced from the
native FTians, who ridicue the idea of
one so degrading himself as TO resort
to manuel labor. He has his bread d-fruit,
his single and scant garment, his thatch-
ed cot, and he is content The working
.bees come from Solomon's Island and
New Hebrdes. The cotton raised is
pronounced in the Liverpool market su
perior to the Sea Island, and the last
crop shipped, amounting to nine thou
sand bales, commanded one dollar per
pound. The soil is sandy loan, and
clay sub-soil mixed with lava The ma
tive lsborers On the plantations com
mand twenty dollars per month, and
there are some three thousand of them
employed on the islands Nearly all OF
the foreigners are English. In Leyuka
there are seven hundred inhabtlnts and
Methodist Epis copal churches, and a
native mission The religion of the ma
tives is mainly controlled by public pol
icy. Their present chief was former.
ly cannibal When converted he had
eleven thousand followers The human
flesh eating chiefs ere known as Butch.
ers' Cannibalism still exists to an
alarming extent throughout the interior
of Viielene, an island abon ninety by
sixty niles in extern. Annual feasts
are given to such chiefs as have slain
foes in battle and performed deeds Of
daring At these disgusting carnivals
the bodies of native boys OF twelve to
fourteen year. Of age only are eaten
From earliest childhood theae subjects
are fsttened for the horrid feast They
are fed wholly on fruits and vegetables
When the day Of slaughter rolls round
two front teeth are extracted from The
mouth of the child These are inserted
in club, with which the murder is com
mitted, the teeth being driven deep into
the skull Of the helpless victim. The
body is then dissected, the entrsils. etc
removed, and afterwards cut into suita
BILE sized steaks These are rolled il
bread-fruit leaves, placed in holes in The
earth, and baked for the feast The ma
tive boy flesh is for the palates of tb,
chiefs only. That of the white man ii
considered too salty and smoky, and i:
not regarded as toothsome. Captain
Fuller informs ustbat there are over on,
hundred thousand cannibals on the is
land, and only last August two Scotch
men we're captured and eaten by the na
tivos. There is prospect Of this wors,
than heathenish custom being abolish
ed in time, now that the entering wedst
of civilization is forcing the barbarian.
to respect the white settlements"