The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-10-16
%subiugation of Marquesas Islanders by
. the French.

The Island of Hiva-Hoa, the largest in terri
tory and most fertile of the Marquesas group,
has never been subiugated until the present day.
The island bas Il population of some seven to
eIght thousand Kanakas. and the group has been
for some time nominally under the French pro-
tectorate governing the Society Islands and other
groups in the South Pacific. The presence of a
Lieutenant and four Sergeants stationed at NOu-
kahiva gave one of the Marquesas group a
semblance of protection to Lille and property.
The Island of Hiva-Hoa was, however, not pro-
vided with any such military force, the only
white person upon the island being a French
Catholic priest. who, Drawing the dangers OF a
wild and mountainous country, had settled
among these canibals to master their language
and convert the idolaters to the Christian faith.
The inhabitants of the island were man eaters,
and from time immemorial the rival tribes
located thereon have waged a constant ana
iferocious warfare, in which the conquerOrs ate
their prisoners. In the celebration OF one OF
their heather holidays, early in the year 1879
(and in ~thissthey aped unconsciously civilized
~nations), the natives became gloriously lntoxi-
Gated with Il fiery liquid known as ana, which is
manufactured by them as well as other South Sea
islanders from the juice of the orange and the
heart of the cocOanut tree, which, when mixed,
is allowed to lerment. Made feroclOus by ire
uuent libations, the natives fought among them
selves, and to end in a fit manner q glorious day,
killed and ate two Swedish sailors, who had des-
serted from a vessel that had been on IL cruise in
those seas. The French Government at Papeete,
Tahiti, was appraised of this event by some small
trader that had landed at the island. One of the
transports stationed at Papeete was dispatched to
the island with orders to summon the chieftains
and command them to deliver up the culprits.
Arrived at the island, no sooner had the anchor
been dropped than some 1000 Kanakas, armed
with rifles, fiint-locks and other firearms which
they had Obtained in barter from traders and
passing whalers, assembled upon the beach and
Erad nnOn the vessel The commander Of the
transport had not with him a sufficient force OF
men to risk and maintain an attack and returned
to Tahiti and made his report. The Governor
wrote to the proper authorities at Paris inform
ing them of his action, and asking that the
Admiral commanding the naval division in the
Pacific be ordered TO repair the scene of rebellion.
Admiral Du Petit Toirre, commanding the frigate
Victorieuse, accompanied by a convoy of three
smaller men-ol-war vessels, which had on board a
detachment Of 100 infantry from New Gale
donia, n French penal colony, arrived at the
island in July last. Upon arrival he issued an
order that all Kanaka chieftains assemble with
their respective tribesmen and deliver up all arms
that might be in their possession. This was
done. AS n quasi punishment for their ofense
ia firing upon the transport, the Admiral sem
fenced the rebelllOus natives to work in building
public roads under the direction Of whites.
These commands having been executed, three or
four small fortresses, or rather stockades, were
built, each one OF them being furnished with a
garrison of ten soldiers and furthermore a
steam gnnboat was ordered to remain anchored
in port. Since then everything has assumed a
different aspect. The natives are at work and
peace reigns. And thus. without the loss of a
drop of blood, without IA single shot being fired
by the French, peace has been secured and roads
ere being built for the convenience OF the island
ers. that they may be able to bring to the sea-
shore from the mountainous recesses the various
products of the land which form the staple of
commerce between the islands Of the South
Pacific Oceans. F. Chronicle.