The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-10-27
Aalraiialr 6azette.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER ~. 1850.


Mr.. Chalmers snd Chester left Thursday Is
land in the EHdnQoiruh on 18th April bound
for Salo, village in the Papuan Gulf, where
they arrived on the afternoon of 18th, but did
not anchor, their object being merely to land a
native lad whom Mr.. Chalmers had induced to
visit Thursday Island. About 100 canoes sur
rounded the vessel. The natives swarmed ON
board, and were greatly disappointed that she
would mol remain. Ii was with considerable
difficulty tina. the vessel was cleared of the
natives, and the mother Of the boy was most
voluble in her abuse. They passed Yule Is
land on the morning Of the 18th, and had a
clear view Of Mount Yule and Mount Owen
Stanley, which are usually enveloped in
clouds The same day they anchored at Boers,
and learned that Peri, the native teacher, had
recovered the body of Captain Redlich, who
was drowned on 10th March last, and had
buried it near his house.
Por. Moresby was reached on 10th, where
they learnt that the people of Motu-M II
large village 40 miles to the westN ard, on re-
turning from their annual trading voyage had
attacked several villages on the coast, killed
a number of people, and carried off all the
young women they could lay hands on They
also sent message to Port Moresby that they
would pay them a visit next n. w. season,
and kill all the foreigners.
They remained at Port Moresby until 23rd
April, and then proceeded to Hula, where Mr..
Beswick is located There is perpetual war
between the Hula natives and the Taroans,
mountain tribe, and on the previous evening
the latter had killed two Hula men and cut
them in pieces. The remains had Just been
brought in, and the village was mourning for
them with howls that made night hideous, the
mems faces being blackened, and those of the
women streaming with blood from cuts made
with sharp shells Next afternt ON the fight
ing men of the village to the number of sixty
engaged in sham fight in full war costume,
and armed with shields, spears, and head
catchers. The latter consists of large loop
of cane on long cane handle. like the frame
OF butterfly net; alcng the handle barbed
arrow is dashed, with the point projecting to-
wards the loop. This is slipped oves the head
of an enemy, and the arrow driven into the
throat or back of the neck, as the case may
he. Chester brought home two fine specimens
of this weapon. This sham fight was prepara-
tory to a raid on the Tarusns, and a kind of
challenge to them. Dancing followed, and
during pause Mr.. Chalmers went amongst
them with some tobacco, which he was dis
Irritating when they made rush. caught hold
of him, and tried TO seize it. Thinking it was
merely Joke, Mr.. Chalmers did not attempt
TO struggle, but kept firm hold of the tobacco.
Matters began to look serious, sn Mr. Phillips,
engineer of the EaGmg0lrd-, and Chester ran
TO his assistance. They soon cleared space
round them, and Mr.. Chalmers handed the to-
hacco 10 the chief for distribution but they
had still less respect for the chief, for he was
quickly knocked down and the tobacco taken
from him. During the scufie Mr.. Chalmers
got scratch ON the forehead from a spear.
On the Goth April they started to walk to
Kalo, in Hood Bay, and passed through Il e
villages of Papaka and kamari The latter
had recently been burnt by the Kalo folks,
and they were still at war. Shortly after
leaving kamari they passed man and woman
on the road, and. without knowing it, nun
Der of kalo natives in ambush near a taro
plantation. They heard subsequently that no
sooner were their backs turned than the un-
fortunate couple were surprised, and the
woman killed almost within their hearing.
The man escaped, although badly wounded.
Their warfare is conducted in the most cow
ardly fashion Where they are at all equally
matched in numbers they never risk fair
stand-up fight, but content themselves with
sneaking upon some defeneeless individual.
man, woman, or child, ard return in triumph
to receive the congratulations of their friends,
and add the victims hair to that already or
namenting their weapons. The record of the
slain is indelibly tattooed on the body Of the
slayer
The great annual festival was being held at
kerepunu, and numbers Of people from Hula
and kalo had gone there in their canoes, so
instead OF remaining at Kalo the travellers
pushed on TO Kerepunu in a boat, arriving
there about P. m. Crowds Of people were
assembled from all quarters. A display of
abundance of food on a temporary scaffolding
IN the centre of the village was made, which
was removed on the last day to platform
about quarter of mile from the village,
from whence it was thrown to the people at
the conclusion Of the ceremonies In front of
this platform were nineteen large pigs hung
by the legs on pole supported by forked
sticks Ten more pigs we're TO be killed at a
similar place close by.
At an early hour the people focked to the
place, and the chiefs and those who undertook
the priestly Office took their seaIs on low
platform at the heads of the pigs Two young
men armed with blunt spears were stationed
at each end Of the line of pigs. Fourteen men
IN white and rel feather head-dresses struck
their drums, and at the first sound the spears
were driven home under the left foreleg Of a
pig. The latter were all decorated with
leaves, and one hind leg of each was left
loose, and had large hollow seeds fastened to
it which ratified during the dying struggle.
When the hrsi blood was drawn the drummers
commenced to march round the platform and
pigs, and continued TO do so until all were
dead. An interval Of two hours now took
place, after which scene No. of the drama
commenced.
Tie food having all been placed on the
ground in front of the high platform, and all
The bananas IN front of the pigs, eleven women
each with drum came and stood in line
in front Of the fruit, and facing the pigs. The
chiefs and priests assembled the platform and
faced The women Eleven men then broke as
many old cocoanuts, and, having strung the
kernels, walked slowly over and placed one
On each wounan's forehead Returning to
gefher 10 the food heap, each man took up two
punches Of bananas and placed them on the
right side Of each woman. Two more punches
were taken by each man, one Of which was de-
posi;ed with the first two; the other was hung
over the left shoulder Of each woman. All
these movements were executed with military
precision, all STOPPING and rising as one man.
and both actors and spectators preserved the
utmost gravity. After stripping the leaves
that had been left on the banana stalks on the
women's shoulders, the eleven men seated
themselves on the platform, and all struck up
q kind Of chant, the women joining in and
keeping excellent time on the drums.
Scene they now took two Of the largest
pigs and slung them between long poles,
across which piece Of wood was secured to
form seat -Four strong Inen took hold Of the
poles, and young man who was 70 be made
a chief This father having died since the last
festivall seated himself on them, with his feet
on the spear-wound in the pig. He wore
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