The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-30
South Sea Cannibals. ---Their Subjuga-
ton by the French.

Inc island OF dIYa-HOa, the largest
in territory and most fertile of the Mar
quesas group, has never been subiugat-
ed until the present day. The island
has population of some seven to eight
thousand Kanakas, and the group has
been for some time nOminally under the
French protectOrate governing the So
ciety Islands and other groups in the
South Pacific The presence of Lien
tenant and four Sergeants stationed at
Noukahiva gave one. of the Marquesas
group semblanee of protection to life
and property. The Island of Hiva-Hoa
was, however, not provided with any
such military force, the only white per-
son upon the island being a French
Catholic priest, who, Drawing the dan
gers of a wild and mountainous country,
had settled among these cannibals to
master their language and convert the
idolators to the Christian faith. The
inhabitants of the island were man
eaters, and from time immemorial the
rival tribes located thereon have waged
constant and ferOciOus warfare, in
which the conquerors ate their prisoners.
In the celebration of one of their
heather holidays, early inthe year 1879,
and in this they aped unconsciOusly civ
ilized nations, the natives became glo-
riously intoxicated with a fiery liquid
known as ara, which is manufactured
by them as we'll as other South Sea
islanders from the juice of the orange
and the heart of the cocoanut tree,
which, when mixed, is allowed to fer
ment. Made ferocious By frequent
libations, the natives fought among
and to end in a fit manner
a glorious day, killed and ate two
Swedish sailors who had deserted from
a vessel that had been on a 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 trans
ports stationed at Papeete was dis
patched to the island with orders to
summon the chieftans and command
them to deliver up the culprits. Ar
rived at the island, no sooner had the
anchor been dropped than some 1000
Kanakas, armed with rifles, flint-locks
and other firearms which they had OBJ
tanned in barter from traders and pass
ing whalers, assembled upon the beach
and fired upon the vessel. The COM
mander of the transport had not with
him sufficient force of men to risk and
maintain an attack, and returned to Ia
hiti and made his report. The Govern
or wrote to. the proper authorities at
Paris informing them of his action, and
asking that the Admiral commanding
the naval division in the Pacific be or
dered to the scene of the rebellion. Adj
miral Du Petit Toirre, commanding the
Victorieuse, accompanied by aFconyoy
of three, smaller men-of-war vessels,
which had on board a detachment of
100 infantry from New Caledonia, a
French penal colony, arrived at the
island in July last Upon arrival he Is.
sued an order thata the Kanaka chief
tains assemble with their respective
tribesmen and deliver up all arms that
might be in their possession. This was
done. As quasi punishment for their
offense in firing upon the transport the
sentenced the rebellious ma
tives to work in building public roads
under the direction of whites These
having been executed, three
or four small fortresses, or rather stock /
AIDES, were built, each one of them be-
ing furnished with a garrison of ten
and furthermore steam run
boat was ordered to remain anchored
in port. Since then everything has as.
Sumed different aspect. The natives
are at work and peace rcigns. The Adj
niral left afterwards for Callao, and
from there sent 4 letter to the French
Consul Of this city, the concluding por-
ion of which is as follows:
'.The work of subjugatioa is accom-
nlished in the archipelago and the dis
ornament of the Kanaka population eff
completed. Every precau-
.ionary measure to secure in this French !
possession the lives and property of I
strangers has been taken and will be
Peace and safety in the
sland are now as assured as they are
n Papeete." ~
And thus, without the loss of a drop |
# blood, without a singlei shot beihg
ired by the French. peace has been Sc
:ured and roads are being built for the
of the islanders, that they
nay be able to bring to the seashore
rom the mountainous recesseS the va
ious products of the land which form
he staple of commerce between the
Stands of the South Pacific Ocean
san Francisco CIiyOsEeGe .tA
Round buttons ar: .nr e. ,shion