Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-27
SOUTH SEA CANNIBALS.

A Horrible Feast in the Marquesas
The NavRge Engaged In Fierce
War-French War-ShIps 10 Inter
fere.
Correspondence of the San Francisco
Chronicle from Tahiti, June l6, furnishes
the following:
The savages on the. island of 0beva-
hoa better known to the English reader
as Dominica, one of the Marquesas
group, have again broken out in fierce
war, aud are practicing their disgusting
orgies as cannibals Dominica is the
largest and most fertile island of the
group, but its natives are among the
6ercest savages of the South Seas. AL
though the Marquesan savages were
compelled to acknowledge the authority
of France in l942, those on the island Of
Dominica have never yielded obedience.
The French claim the islands as one of
their oceanic possessions, and have a
Governor and small military force at
Noukahivs. To keep the natives in sub
lection the principal force relied upon is
the war-vessels, one or more of which is
always in some port or cruising about,
A fierce war is now raging on the is
land among rival cannibal chiefs, and
the latest reliable news is to the effect
that in one OF .heir battles the victors
captured seven of the enemy and imme-
diately slaughtered them. This act of
butchery was followed by a horrible
feast on the bodies Of the victims, at
which war songs, war dances, and the
usual savage festivities we're INDUCED in.
AS soon as the news reached here the
French authorities took active measures
for moving against the savages. The
war vessel lying at Noukahiva is to be
reinforced by another war steamer and
a revenue cutter or two. The object this
time is to land sailors and marines upon
Dominica, and attempt to capture the
cannibal leaders. 1t is very doubtful il
this can be accomplished, as the natives
always fee to the interior Businesses
upon the approach Of the French. When
closely pursued by the latter, the rival
chiefs unite their forces to give battle to
their common enemy.
A few years ago this place was startled
by news even more exciting than that
we now have. 1t was then first reported
that the caunibals on Dominica had
captured and eaten three French sailors,
and also a number Of natives captured
in war. The authorities here dispatched
force to the island, which was success
full in capturing one of the most cele-
brated warrior chiefs, in fact, the amb-
tious leader who claimed to be king OF
the island. This warrior, now quite an
old man, is still held prisoner. He was
brought to this place, had sort OF trial,
and was sent to Morea, the island ada
cent to this. He is to be seen by the Gu
rious, ana o more remarkable specimen
of mankind it would be hard to find. He
is tattooed from head to foot, and is
almost naked, never wearing anything
except light cloth about his loins. One
OF his retainers, a young warrior, is
allowed to wait upon him. Besides this
exiled king, there are four other canni-
balls, his friends, on Morea. They deny
the charge Of having eaten Frenchman,
but admit that native enemy captured
according to their laws, makes an excel
lent dish, especially if be be young and
has not INDUCED in the civilized luxury
of whisky and tobacco. The French
authorities are informed that ii is the
cannibal friends of the exiled king who
are now carrying on their war of butch
cry. ~
A complaint has been lodged with the
French officials that the American whal-
ing vessel Helen Snow touched at the
island of Dominica some time ago and
sold the natives three thousand pounds
of powder, a quantity of lead, and a
number of old muskets. The vessel
came from Honolulu, where, it is said,
she purchased the articles mentioned. 1t
is against the law to sell or in any way
trade such articles to the natives, so that
if the Helen Snow is captured and found
guilty, as charged we shall have compi-
cations OF an international character on
our hands. One thing is certain, that it
is only by the greatest vigilance OF
the English and the French war vessels
in the South Seas that the natives are
saved from pirate Captains, like the no.
torious Bully" Hays and others of bis
kind. Strange to say, the fereest and
most bloodthirsty pirates aud man