The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-11-08
& Cannibal Feast.

BY the arrival of the schooner Maggie Johnson,
we have important news from the Marquesas
Islands. 1t seems that Captain Hart, an Ameri-
can, has a large plantation on the Island of Dom
Unique, on which he employs Cinnamon and ma
tiyes TO raise cotton. There are two or three
tribes of natives OF the island, who at this time
are on unfriendly relations with each other. One
wears the emblem of revenge, sweet and unadul-
terated. When a tribe proposes to go on the
war path, and have the livers and lights Of their
fellow countrymen for food, the members OF said
tribe let the hair on one side Of the head grow
long, and keep the other side closely clipped.
When the hair has grown to fighting length, war
and man-eating begins. Shortly before the visit
of the French corvette, one Of the tribe were the
HAIR in fighting, reVengeful, man-eating fashion.
The natives employed by Captain Hart were not
of that tribe, but it was against them that this
spirit Of revenge had been nursed, and war was
to be made. One of the belligerent tribe, by an
indiscreet haste to satiate his appetite with a
steak cut of a victim, precipitated the unequal
contest between his tribe and the French. He
visited Captain Harris plantation, and took with
him a heavy Ratchet, which he asked one Of his
plantation hands, a native, to sharpen. He took
the hatchet, and reduced it to a keen edge, and
handed it back to the war-hke cannibal. The
latter said: sis this well done?" The former
answered, - 1t is" Scarcely had the last word
been spoken when the cannibal raised the Ratchet,
whiried in the air, and aiming a blow at him
who sharpened it, struck him on the neck and
almost severed his head from his body. Another
stroke Of the Ratchet, and the PROSTATE cannibal
was IN condition to be cooked. His wife was
then assaulted and murdered, and the cannibal
buried MS victims " to keep for future USE
After the lapse of two or three days the willy
savage returned, took up his victims, and carried
them to a convenient valley, roasted them, and
assisted by others of his tribe, devoured them
with revengeful relish. Captain Hart reported
the matter 10 the French officials on the islands,
- - H. Co. 6 Al
Government at Tahiti. The corvette Brudt was
at once dispatched to punish the natives for this
fresh outburst Of cannibalism. It arrived before
the Maggie Johnson, and for seven days an IN
cessant fire was kept up on the island. The
tribe few first to the hills, supposing they could
not be reached there, but they were soon disa-
bused Of this idea. They abandoned their ~favorite
position and took to the valleys; but here they
were no safer. Shot and shell followed them
everywhere. and they were finally compelled to
surrender. 1t is not known-was not when the
Maggie Johnson left-how many of the man-
eaters, If any, were killed or wounded but as
wounded means killed-because if unable to pro-
tect themselves, they will certainly be killed and
devoured-this general term will answer for both.
The natives were released, after being sOundly
admonished that they must give up their man
eating proclivities, but seven chiefs were taken 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 1t is possible that by this time
their bodies would not be considered desirable
food by their countrymen. Captain Hodgkins
has no doubt but they were executed.
The spirit of revenge, and all immediate desire
for war are over just now, and the cannibal war
rIoTs have cut of the long hair, which indicates
peace. The effect Of the visit Of the Bruat is
now, and viii be felt for q long time. 1t gives
additional, if not absolute security to foreigners,
and has unnerved the cannibal natives. The
Mar9uesas Islands belong to the French, and this
disposition to punish native treachery will protect
those who settle on tbem.-BuHet!E, SEPT. u.