The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-07-19
Furnishing South Sea Murderers.

Tie Noumea correspondent of the sydney Norm.
ing Herald writes on April 4:-H-M.S. Coruor1Ht.
Captain Bruce, anchored here a few hours after
the departure of the mail. She comes from a
cruise Of some months amongst the South Sea
Islands, and reports the discovery OF 10 less than
forty or City shoals or reefs not laid down in the
charts. These were caused. no doubt, during the
volcanic disturbances which some months since so
altered the sOundings at Tanna Island, as You
were advised. One important mission of the Cor
,aoraHt vas TO inquire into the circumstances of
the murder Of Mr.. Ingham, at Brooker Island.
Captain Bruce asserts that the good results which
would have followed the visit of the Corm0rdnt
were much lessened by the fact of the natives be-
ing forwarned by traders of what they had to ex-
pect. On arriving at the place, they cunningly
pretended the most lamblike innocence. coming of
in their canoes to trade, bringing Island produce,
and conducting themselves altogether in such q
way that Captain Bruce, being refused the aid he
fully expected from the missionaries, found it inn
possible to treat such confidence in any way but a
friendly manner, until, persevering in searching
for proof Of their culpability. the remains of poor
Mr.. Ingham's boat and the plumber were discover
ed by the search party. Then the 4" innocent"
natives made themselves scarce, as before they had
been - conGding.' Possessed of the appliances and
the determination to make their power known,
Captain Bruce soon convinced the numbering
wretches of their powerlessness when one of II. NJ.
ships, doing more than merely showing Der teeth
proves she can bite. and very hard too. When the
murderers fed for protection to the other side of
s~heltering hills, distant a mile or two from the ship,
they found themselves pursued by rocket shells.
which followed them Z" over the hills and far away;
and burst amongst them some thirty or forty
caooud= affar tho vra+oIarc IN 4ba billtoDs bod en-,
the shot fred from the vessel. They must have
thought that the very devil " 0heir only god
pursuing them to death. More especially
when, after the ship had left, they found their vii
lagos devastated, though not a man had put his foot
on shore, Captain Bruce very wisely Furnishing the
cannibals in a most effective manner
useless risk TO his crew, one man of whom
is of more value than the whole population ten
told of one Of the Cannibal Islands,
a new and very great danger is being fostered by
traders amongst the South Sea Islands. One of
he articles most in demand by the islanders is
Will the greed for money pause at
lothing with some people? 1t is devoutly to be
loped that those mercenary spirits who, for the
axe of gainingsa paltry shilling, place in the pos
ession of these bloodthirsty blacks so powerful a
Weapon of destruction will be the first to fall VIC
$500 49, JAhCht. OLt " ldieT lHeIc is
title doubt but some of these cunning civilised
elbows, who have spent years amongst the whites
Queensland. New Caledonia, or FIT, who speak
God English or French, and are perfectly ac-
TAINTED with the use of many articles of civilised
including the death dealing dynamite, will
low some vessel to pieces with this explosive.
That easier than for these cunning fellows to
ist a vessel in the most friendly spirit, find out
neither she has plenty of trade on board, then at s
given signal the canoes all leave the vessel. !
me of the best speaking. most friendly fellows. Z
emaining on board till all the canoes are at a safe
istance. when he drops his dynamite in the ship, b
lunges overheard, diving like a fish. and coming
p in time to see the vessel sinking, and the canos Il
turning to get their trade and the furnishing Of
cannibal for nothing. Is there no power TO :,
the selling of dynamite to the South Sea
landers u crime severely punishable? There is g
rely enough murder and blood-sheddinga already
nongst the Pacific Islanders. This dynamite
lestion reminded Captain Bruce of an expedition u
p the Niger. in Africa, the shores of which -
fornd lined with cannon of various calibre, :,
Id to the natives by the very merchants whose +
terests the expedition was sent to protect. t.