Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-03-11
CANNIBALS IN THE ASTOR.

An interesting and novel exhibition
was witnessed OH Friday March 4th,
in parlor IA, Astor House, by COM
pany of about fifty journalists, au-
thors, ministers, missionaries, show
men and travellers. The master of
ceremonies was the renowned show
man, p. T. Barnum, who took pride
in exhibiting what he views as the
greatest curiosities ever brought to
this country, namely, four living can
nibals, with a large collections OF their
warlike, mechanical, and household
implements.
In front of a CRATE fire which cast a
! grateful warmth over their almost ma
ked bodies, stood Kina Bose Yaka,
Koya Tumasamora, and the dwarf,
Gen. Ra Biau, who is about four feet
high and 30 years of age. These are
fighting cannibals, who were captured
III battle by Thokambau, King of
Feejee Island. They were ransomed
through the personal exertions of the
American Consel, DIR. J. w. Brauer.
The savages are natives of Ma Wit
Leon, the largest OF the Polynesian
Archipelago.
Princess Otavah, grand daughter
of Thokambou, was seated by the
fire, reading Feejee Bible. She is
an intelligent woman, about thirty
years of age, having been educated by
the Wesleyan Mission at Mbau.
On table at one end of the room
were displayed large collection of
cannibal curiosities, among, them arms,
temples, shrin $, gods, fish and turtle
nets, fishhooks made from human
bones and tortoise shell, boomerangs,
necklaces of whales teeth, a vampire
or flying fox, and also hand of the
king Lavoni, who was killed in battle.
After the visitors had inspected the
cannibals and curiosities, and express
ed unanimous opinion that there
was no woolly horse humbug about
their woolly heads, the gentle savages
INDUCED III a number Of vigorous dam
ces, to the editication Of the specta-
tors.
The first dance was called the dance
of the Feast. The cannibaIs were
decorated with feathers and daubed
with war paint. a necklace Of whales
teeth encircled their swarthy necks, a
{ piece Of linen was tied around their
waists from belt, over their hips
, strips of narrow bark cloth and half
tanned leather dangled, while switch
es of black hair were tied tightly be-
low their knees. Their dress was as
scant as that of the ballet girls i'll the
''Black Crook" with the exception
: that, instead of tights, the savages ap
peared in their smooth, oily, olive
skins.
/ The Princess sat i'll a chair in front
: of the dancers, drumming with two
5 small sticks on round piece of hare
: wood. The dancers held long wood
: en- lances in their hands, which they
7 fiourished menacingly at times ove
5 the heads Of the spectators. The
l dance was very lively one, the can
: nibals making terrific leaps alightins
: as light as grasshoppers on their barr
n feet, and keeping perfect time in al
b their movements to the monOtonou
i. drumming of the wooden sticks.
+ At the expiration of the dance, il
: order to give the cannibaIs breathin;
:, spell, Mr.. Barnum announced that th
: Princess would read any chapter from
s. the Feejee Bible that the critics Nigh
o select. Thereupon the religious ed
e tor Of the Sunday Werco1y requeste'
e that the first chapter of John be reaG
e The Princess read the chapter in tn
o Feeiee dialect, in mild, pleasan
a tone, her countenance beaming wit
|, intelligence. Her modesty and quie
is demeanor won the good opinion of a
e in the room.
II A war dance was the startling fes
|. nure of the exhibition. The cannibal
: were armed with new hickory pickax
? handles. The Princess struck up
: rafting tune with the sticks, the say
G ages keeping time with desperat
't leaps, yells, and blows. Under tn
"a tremendous blows the hickory in th
', hands of the dwarf was broken. 1t
of said that in battle he killed more tha
q. any chief of his tribe, as the blows {
y his opponents passed over his heaC
d while he would jab them in thei
or stomachs with wooden sword line
y with four rows of sharks teeth.
II While the warriors were restin
N from the fatigue occasioned by th
L. war dance, Mr.. Barnum entertaine
IS the company with a few facts concerl
"a ing their diet, etc. Owing to the di
W ficulty Of obtaining plump and tende
y children in this latitude, sucking pig
!, satisfied their epicurean appetites.-
- - They were also fond Of reptiles of a
~ kinds. A day or two ago, while i
e - the menagerie they captured larg
u snake, and had actually bitten into
u before they were discovered The
- - eat snakes, lizards, worms, and a
= : reptiles raw.
? @Do they eat human beings raw
% :; inquired fat Bohemian, as he retrea
= I: ed from the front row Of benche
- - near which the cannibals stood wit
~ ~ their clubs.
u u "Oh, yes, sometimes" said the gre:
- = Snowman, with merry twinkle in h
= = eyes; "but they generally like thel
oe s well baked"
~. =. After the war dance, social dane
y y one in honor of the king was exec1
" " ted. A very pretty hop called the ia
y dance, in which the cannibals hel
- - large heart-shaped fans in their hand
n followed.
lie
O. Bear the burden of the present;
he Let the morrow bear its own: