The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1878-11-08
Cannibalism in the Marquesas.

OoAulunllSlu Ill Iu6 MhTqueSdS.
THE RELIGIOUS SACRIFICES AND THEIR
REPULsIvE CEREMONIES.
Among the passengers by the Grey
hound arrived at this port from Tahiti,
was an American named Lewis Chase,
who for more than quarter of cen
tury has never seen a civilized coun-
try, and has seldom looked upon the
face of white man. San Francisco is
the first glimpse of civilization he Las
had since he left bis native home in
Danbury, Conn.,, twenty>seven years
ago. For twenty-five years and six
months, precisely, he has lived on a
group of islands Inhabited by feroclous
canDibals, and, fortunately for him.
self, has come out hale and hearty
without ever having as much as slice
of human steak takan from his anato-
my. A Chronicle reporter, after con
siderable diplay o. fascinating elo-
quence, mixed with offered potations
of spiritual delight, fiually succeeded
in securing an interview with Mr.
Chase, who, when first approached
presented decidedly hostile and wal
like front. But under the soothing
process adopted by the interviewer,the
iasOnt bud OF intellect rapidly bios
somed and bore fruit, which is now
placed before the mental palate Ct the
reader. 1t is a savory dish, and cannot
fail to send thrill of exquisite sensa.
tion through every nerve of the body
and brain.
The group of islands on which Mr.
Chase has passed his quarter of a cen
tury is the Marquesas, where before
his own eyes he has seen csnnibalisn
practiced both as a fine art and as ,
fierce display of human ferocity. Thi
horrible practice is iudulgei in princi
pally to crafty deadly spirit of re-
venge which one tribe of natives hold
against another. In the many bruta
and bloody civil wars which they hav'
waged against one another the slain an'
captured victims are eaten with a ven
geance. In their religious rites, also, ,they
offer up human sacrifices captured ir
battle. When victim is selected for
cannibal feast his body is washed clear
and the hair of his head is burned off.
the feast is not of religious characte
the victim is simply beaten to dealt
with war clubs, and when dead hi
body is again washed and placed in
large oven dug in the earth. The hol
forming the oven has fire beneath
and over this is pile Of round stones
On the top Of the stones mats mad
of strong material are placed, in whic
the bodyis wrapped up. These mat
are then covered over with a grea
pile ofleaves, and all is again covere
with another layer OF mats. The fir
beneath absorbs enough air to keep
burning steadily,and soon volume {
steam is generated. This escape
slowly through the mats and leavel
and gradually the body becomes cook
ed through this simple but certai
steaming process. The cooks are {
superior skill in their profession, an
can tell to the instant when the bod
is sufficiently "done" to suit the tast
8 of the guests. When ready to tax
6 it out of the oven, all the materis
covering is carefully removed, an
5 when. it-comes to the layers surroupG
, ing the victim the mats are taken O
!. with o sensitive touch, lest any of ii
skin on the body should be torn ava
When all is bare, and the body lool
brown end beautifully cooked, sho,
Of demonaic laughter rents the ali
and the cooks are complimented
the highest terms by the host Of car
nibals thirsting to enjoy the dreadf,
!, luxury.
The brains and the eyes are consid