The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-02-12
rcOuiuuDic.,edl
Trouble ON TarnWa and Apafang.

The last steamer from the South brought the de-
tails of news OF great political disturbances on
Apaiaug and Tarawa of the Gilbert group. These
two islands having each population of nearly three
thousand are distant one from the other about SIX
miles. Efforts for the evangelization Of their in
habitants have been made during the last twenty
years, and not without success but the prev
alence Of war has greatly hindered the work. The
present condition OF affairs Is very critical
Under date of July 18th, Capt. Bray of the "Morn-
ing STAR wrote; "At Apaiang found the teachers
FROM Tarawa. Simon Kaoure aud John Tcraoi IGil-
bert lslandersl They reported that there had been
fighting upon TaRHa since Mr.. Hama left flor
Honolulu and that they were obliged to leave.
schooner was also there that reported an attempt
to land but were threatened and driven off. Mr..
Haina and wife appeared anxious TO get there lthey
were returning to their mission statUn so, taking
John Teraoi aud wife, we left Apaisng one morn
ing, and at dark that evening We came 10 -nchor
just Oh point IN the lagoon between the two war
parties Que OF these parties was beaded by David
kourap for many years the leading chief OF the is
land, the protector of our missionaries and for
several years ehurchmember. The other party we
have been wont TO call 'the rebels. :" During the
night we could see the flashes and hear the report
of their guns as they shot at each other. At day
light Mr.. Haina aud wife and Teraoi took their
bibles, and went first to the party opposing the
king, and found them disposed Tor peace. Two of
their chiefs came on board with Mrs. Hama, while
Hama went Tor the king and one more OF his party
and brough. them on board. Having now the heads
OF both parties board was uuaUle after all the
conversation and imperfect Interpretation thereof
TO ascertain the cause of the war, but could dis
tinctly understand that they were all disposed to
peace; SO the great object Was to establish that.
Mr. Hama drew up treaty OF peace in the Gilbert
Island language, which they all signed, and after
shaking hands with each other, they sung There is
a happy land" and Mr.. Hama led in prayer. Alter
this They went on shore TO dlsperse their bands, and
all day long we could see the natives with their
Uuu uOa going their homes different
parts OF the island. Thus the Lord used the arrival
of the Morning STAR and his servants the mission
aries TO put an end to the death and devastation
that had ragged for some seven months. There has
been great destruction of property but not much
of life, as near / can learn" Capt. Bray soon
sailed but the peace established Was alas OF short
duration. Some of the subjects of kaiea IL king
of Apaang contrary to the laws OF the land and the
wish OF the king Joined the rebel party on Tarawa,
thus reyiving their hopes.
On the 18th Of August Rev. G. Leleo, Hawaiian
missionary OF the Board OF the Hawaiian Evangeli-
cal Association in charge OF the mission station at
Apaiang at the request of king Kaea set out the
bearer of royal dispatch TO those of his subjects
who had gone to Tarawa Landing at the rebel
camp he interviewed the rebel leaders. About them
q large number soon clustered and after calling q
roll OF the Apaiangers which be had, Leleo read
the dispatch. A translation Of the same reads
follows:
KoIsAwA TCapital of Apaiangl August "a, 1878
To people oil APPALLING now on Tarawa:
We write you that you give attention to Leleo,
for he aud the elderly neu with him have with
them what We have to say. And of what mind are
you. Do you not desire to return 10 Apaiang that
we may together be gathered under our written
code Of laws: for the law has been broken by your
going 10 Tarawa? And this also is TO be thought Of
our country is in danger OF getting very bad name
among foreigners on account OF your having gone
to the war. Men and brethren beloved. do you not
love your own code Of laws? .
(Signed) KAIEA
After the reading of tbs dispatch Leleo repeatedly
asked them whether they would return or remain,
but the question ELECTED response until ut length
the rebel chief of Tarawa replied that he would not
let them 90, but that he would retain them his
companions 10 bis attack upon TIE kourapi. Leeo
then labored TO dissuade them from war. With
them he spent the night; aud the next day went to
Tapang the mission station on Tarawa where Mr..
Hama lives. AT 81 o'clock Of that same evening
they heard firing. Inc battle Was continued during
the night and part OF the next day, August 3lst
At 2 p. IN news continuing to reach the mission
aries that he kings party had been defeated they
set out to plead With the rebels for the life OF the
king but just then some OF the victorious party ar
rived 10 search OF plunder and announced the death
of King kourapi his mother, his brother, his sister
and his oldest Thus fell the constant and tried
friend Of the missionaries He sleeps in Jesus, no
to be harassed by wild savages has been his
lot for many years. The missionaries started Immedi
ately for the battle ground Here they found among
the dead bodies the heads OF some OF the people
10 pieces. Twenty-four had been slain among
whom were two women. Nineteen were pagans
aud i've churchmembers. The five corpses VI roy
atty were brought to Tapiang, September LIST, aud
buried by The missionaries September 2nd, in ONT
grave. Leleo states that some of the bodies lett
the battle ground were buried there, some were
burned and the body of one of The christians, Ter
Reaus was eaten by some OF the rebels. On Sunday
September LIST, great number OF the victorious
rebels crowded into the missionary compound with
guns, knives and spears. Some broke down the
fence and thrust their spears into the honse II wa:
their purpose TO massacre the refugees within the
fence Of the teachers Leleo pleaded with the chiefs
e.,
their consent: the adherents of the king, however
they wished to have banshed. Fearing that ifiheN
did not leave the island they would be slain il Wal
thought best for the yauquished party TO 90 Il
Apaiang. The missionaries decided TO ACCOMPANY
them. A white trader loaned large boat, and il
this with the missionary boats nearly hundred
sailed from Tapiaug for Apaiang on the evening o
the Sd of September Two hundred refugees event
uRlly reached Apaiang. The labor of eighteen year
was seemingly largely wiped away, and Tarawa wa
left in nndisputed possession OF hostile pagans
On the 9th of September, Haiua returned for hi
wife and children be to remain courageously at hi
post, they to take shelter on the more favored is
! land of Apaiang. Mrs. Hanp reached the mission
! station on Apaiang, September 10th. few day.
later news having reached Kaiea, the young king 0
Apaiang aud sou-in-law of kOurapi. that Kapu
mare high chief of his island residing at Awaiuant
some six miles south from the capital. had sent hi
! brother to strengthen the pagans on Tarawa, auC
fearing speedy union Of the pagans with Kapu
mare, aud an attack upon himself, without furthe
delay on the evening of the 18th marched south
ward Troops continued to pass the mission station
from the north during all the hours of the nigh
aud into the next morning, to Join the young king
| At two o'clock p. m. of that day, September 18th
| he opened fire and in three quarters of hour
Kapunare, his son "a most worthy young mani hi
stalwart brother Kautabuki, aud other warrior
were laid low 10 death. large number fled u
Tarawa, and Raiea was left undisputed master OF hi
| own island. Thus the two parties at the lates
dates. December 18th, stand. ALI intercourse be.
tween the two islands had ceased What the mex
news may be none can tell / believe the heart Q
the king OF Apaang, member of the Apaian
church, is disposed TO peace. He may have bee
toe hastv, but believe that be truly felt IL neces
sary for the preservation of himself aud his royl
subjects, TO march on Kspunare without delay, al
though the latter was also member of the sam
church; but KapuDare was surrounded by power
full heather chiefs not at all friendly the reign
| Kalea or TO his written code of laws, and he ma
have been influenced to fall back into his forme
! pottings; but of this time will show. II is to b
hoped that be did not die guilty Of unmitigate
treason. VIII not all who read these lines pray Il
the speedy triumph of Jesus, the Prince of Peace
| all those dark islands? t4t ID l-
HIRAM BINGHAM Missionary A. B. c. F. NJ.
ATIUT DnICHNEEArnC