The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-09-24

them to q convenient valley
roasted them, and assisted by
others Of his tribe dcvoured then
with rcveugcful relish. Capt. Harr
reported the matter to the French
officials on the Island, who immedi
ately informed the officers Of the
Government in Tahiti. The cor
veLte Bruat wasdispatched to pun
ish the natives for this fresh out
burs tof cannibalism. 1t arrived be-
fore tho Maggie Johnson, and tol
seven days IN incessant fire was
kept up on the island. The tribe few
first to the hills, snpposing they
could not be reached there, bu,
they werc soon disabused Of this
idea. They abandoned their favor.
ite position and took to the va!
leys; but here they were no safer
Shot and shell followed them ev.
erywhere, and they were finally
compelled to surrender. 1t is not
known-was not when the Mag
gle Johnson left-how many of the
man-eaters, if any, were killed OF
wounded; but as
WOUNDED MEANS KILLED
if unable to protect
themselves they will certainly be
killed and dovoured-this general
term will answer for both. The
natives were released, after being
soundly admonished that they
must give up their man.eating pro
clivities, but seven chiefs were ia
ken to Tahiti to be hanged by the
necks, or dispatched in some other
way. The commander Of the cor
vette said they would be executed
upon his arrival at Tahiti, and ii
is possible that by this time their
bodies would not be considered
desirable food by their country,
men. Capt. Hodgkins has nc
doubt they were executed. Tho
spirit OF revenge, and all imme
diate desire for war, are over just
now and the Gambia! warriors
have cut off the long hair, which
indicates peace. The effect Of tho
visit Of the Bruat is now and viii
be felt for a long time. II gives
additional, if not absolute security
to foreigners, and has unnerved the
cannibaI natives. The Marquesa:
Islands belong to the French, anc
this disposition to punish native
trcachery will protect those whe
settle on them.
CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES.
There are six prominent island:
of the group which are visited by
merchant vessels. They contain
a total population Of about ter
thousand. The smaller ones art
seldom visited, and but little il
known ofthem. The natives are
cannibals, and although there arr
Catholic and Protestant missions
established on the larger islands
there arc but very few converts
to Christianity. Churches of bott
denominations are erected on tht
islands, which are we'll ATTENDED
on Sundays and all times Of wor
ship. The chief missionary Of th'
Catholic Church, the Domini, a
be is called, is fat, portly, heal
thy man of about fifty summers
He is very much liked by the na
tives. They flock to his ehurcl
in large numbers, and after th'
services they talk to the good OLE
man, feels his arm and body, ant
pronounce him good to cat. The,
Join in q general "Hula-hula"-
most immoral dancc-after ser
vice. 1t is said this priest woul'
have afforded sweet and nourish
ing food for the cannibals, only
that they are afraid Of the terrible
punishment which would be Gel
tain to follow such an act. Blu
when they talk of the
EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR KILN
Of the priest, their thirst for hr
man flesh becomes so desperat
that it must be satiated by one 0
their OWE people. When a cam
bal kills aud devours q cannibs
he preserves his hair, Of which h
makes a necklace. They also wea
the hair Of their victims arouu
their waists and ankles. Th
more ponderous these ornament
"the bigger the ingun." The
wear 3 very small covering owe
the waist, called tapa-a sort {
cloth made from the bark Of th
date tree. In the settlements nea
the ports, the natives condue
themselves quietly ; but no whit
man is safe any distance frol
there or a settlement. They d.
coy strangers to the woods an
murder and devour them. The
teasting ground is generally undo
the spreading leaves of the banan'
They get drunk on orange rum c
the fermentcd juice of the orang
dance around the roasting victim
and sniff the smoke from th
crisped and burning bones with
decided relish. They are tatooe
in the most grotesque style, and
hand not tatooed cannot touch til
roasting human flesh. Only a shol