The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-04


land. Persons who were acquainted with
the condition of New leland took the liberty
to doubt the story; for though they migt ad-
NIT the possibility of party OF hOodlum
Msories INDUCING in a feast OF the kind they
did not conceive il at all probable. The
story and the doubts are both confirmed.
Four Wesleyan missionaries have been
killed and eaten, but by natives OF New
Britain, not of New Zealand.
AN OUTBREAK OF CANNIBALIsM.
On the 18th of February Mr.. Brown heard
that there had been fighting among the
natives, and a chief named Torogood had got
five bodies, which they were going to eat.
He determined to prevent the feast, and
started of for that purpose in company with
Mr.. Turner, a botanical collector. They
reached the village in the midst of beating of
the drums, greatly to the surprise of the peo-
pie, and almost the first thing they saw was
the mangled body of slain hostile chief, tied
by the neck to a large tree in a standing
position. The other bodies were in another
village Mr.. Brown sent for Torogood and
talked to him earnestly and kindly, begging
him to bury the bodies and not allow any OF
them to be eaten. Torogood said it was not
his fault; told of the bad acts that the slam
chief had committed, and seemed to wish it
to be inferred that it was unreasonable for
one 10 Wish to deprive him OF the pleasure
of eating him. Mr.. Brown appealed TO the
people, and Torogood offered to bury the
man if he were paid war damages. Mr..
Brown determined to see the affair out but
IN a little while TOrogood promised that out
of respect to the lotu he would have the
man buried Mr. Brown started for the
other village, but he approached it per
ceived the smell of the other five bodies,
which the people had already nearly cooked.
Thinking he had accomplished all it was safe
TO attempt at the time, he did not follow the
matter up further.
THE MURDER AND HoRRID FEAST OF MISSION
ARIES.
Some time after these events Sailasa, one
of the native ministers, told Mr.. Brown, at a
quarterly meeting that he had been up in
land in New Britain, and had been kindly
received by the natives and that they all
wished him to go again. He asked for some
beads, etc, to give to the chiefs as presents,
and Mr. Brown gave them to him, telling
him that he, too, was going over soon to New
Britain, and would also go inland further
up the cOas. and hoped 10 get some fine
openings for the lotu. At the beginning of
April Mr.. Brown prepared to take his fami-
ly for d change OF air 10 New Britain and
spend a week or so on the island. On the
Sth, when they were all ready to
start, a native came to the window
OF mis- study, where he was sitting at night,
and told him that he had just heard
that the New Britain natives had murdered
Sailssa and some teachers. The report was
confirmed on the next day. An inquiry
into the circumstances of the murder showed
that Sailasa and the traders had agreed to go
inland in separate parties of four each, one
under the charge OF Sailasa and the other
under Ratu Lival, another trader. The party
under Ratu Lival went for some distance in
land, slept at one of The villages and returned
the next day, having been in some little
danger. The other party tSsilass's) started
on the same day ana slept at one of the vii
lagos on the first range. THlili, chief from
the north coast, sent up after them, telling
the OuShmen TO kill them The natives
from tie town where they slept followed
them on the road and continued calling as
they ven. along the road to other natives
who wers working on their plantations to
join them until they got large number col
Iected, when they were able 90 attack them
and overpowsr them st once. The teachers
do not seem to haye had any suspicious, and
were taken quite uuawsres. The eating of
all the murdered men was not denied, but
was confessed to by several persons, and the
places were found where the feasts took
place. The bones OF some OF the victims
were recovered, broken and charred.
STEPS TO PUNISH THE cAEEIBALs.
After receiving the news, Mr.. Brown Wis
itcd Sailasas house, where be met the widows
or the murdered men aud heard horrible
accounts of their death which made the
blood boil. He was told also that Talili, the
rePuted murderer, had come from his own
village and proposed to chief IN the neigh.
DorhOod TO murder the women and children
and burn the house. He also discovered
that the Samoan and Fijian teachers had
consulted together and were planning an
expedition inland that night, and were de-
termined 10 go without telling him, for fear
that he would prevent them. Two white
men, who were with him in the boat, had
also agreed to 60 with them. Fearing that
such an expedition would be a failure. and
would probably cause loss OF life, he begged
the teachers to trust the matter with him
He was now placed in critical position, and
gives the following as the reasons which in
huenced this decision:
l. There was first the tact that the teachers
themselves were actually preparing to GO
that they all said that life was no longer
safe IN any of the towns, nor was the mission
work practicable il these murderers were not
punished.
2. The few whites here also assured me
that unless something was done their lives
also were no longer safe. They volunteered
their help, and urged Immediate action.
Talili who is said to have ordered the
massacre, had previously attempted the life
of Mr.. Hicks, trader, at Matupit The
COOK of the bark John Cesar had a very
narrow escape from him, and very recently
ne dtlenpIeu 10 C5pluTt Tie oCuOOhcl
Franzska. Since the murder be bad sen
some very insulting messages 10 the whites
g. Ny own convictions also were tina
unless these murders were punished they
would soon be followed by others.
Being satisfied that the murders were no
in any way connected with the position o
the victims as Christian teachers or prompt
ed Oy enmity to the lotu, but were COM
mitted because the natives wished Z
eat some foreigners and get thei
properly, he decided to enlist th'
well-disposed natives with him. H'
was successful and secured consIderabl
party, who IL was arranged should go as 500
as possible and attack the offenders from tw
sides. Having prepared to send the womei
and children back to the Duke OF Tor
ISLANDS, be went up to ere Bulilalal, note
chIel OF the part of the island where he Wa;
The chief was shy OF white men, having
conscience not quite void OF offense, bat MI
Brown sent word that he would go with mir
with only native teacher, but with n
l.