Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-08

CANIBALIsM IN FIJI.--It was only people
who had been killed that were considered good
for food Those who died a natural death
were never eaten-invariably buried. But it
certainly is a wonder that the isles were not
altogether depopulated, owing to the number
who were killed. Thus, in Namena, III the
year 1851, fifty bodies were cooked for one
feast. And when the men of Bau were at war
with Verata they carried Of 26O bodies, seven
teen of which were piled on canoe and sent
to Rewa, where they were received with wild
Joy, dragged about the town and subject
ed to every species of indignity ere they
reached the ovens Then, too, just think OF
the number of lives sacrificed in a country
where infanticde was recognized lnStltu-
ton, and where widows were strangled as
matter of course! Why, Oh one occasion,
when there had been a horrible massacre OF
Namena people at Viva, and upwards OF lOO
fishermen had been murdered, and their bodies
carried as J0k0tu to the ovens at Bau, no less
than eighty women were stranged to do hon
or to the dead and corpses lay in every dlrec-
tion about the mission station tits just thlr-
ty years since the Rev. John Watsford, writ
ing from here described how twenty-eight
victims had been seized in one day while fish
ing They were brought here alive and were
only stunned when put into the oven. Some
of the miserable wretcheS attempted to escape
| from the scorching bed of red-hOt stones, but
only to be driven back and buried i'll that liv-
| ing tomb, whence they were taken out to feast
their barbarous captors. He adds that more
human beings were eaten Oh this little isle of
| Bau than anywhere else in Fiji. 1t is very
hard. indeed, to realize that the peaceful vii
lage on which | am now looking, has really
| been the scene of such horrors as these, and
that many of the GENTLE kindly people around
me have actually taken part in them.
INFLUENCE OF NEwSPAPERS.-A school.
teacher. who has been long time engaged in
his profession and witnessed the influence OF a
newspaper on the minds of family Of chill
dren, writes as follows have found it to be
a universal fact, without exception, that those
scholars, of both sexes and all ages, who have
access to newspapers at home, when compared
with those who have not, are:
First. Better readers, excellent in pronun:
citation have consequently read more, and
understandingly.
Second. They are better spoilers, and define
words with ease and accuracy.
Third. They obtain practical knowledge OF
geography in almost half the time it requires
of others. as the newspapers have made then
acouainted with the location of the important
places of nature, their government, and dolngS
on the globe.
Fourth. They are better grammarians, for
having become so familiar with every style IL
the newspapers, from the commonplace adver
tisements to the finished and classical oratiol
of the statesman, they more readily compre
hend the meaning of the text, and consequent
ly analyze it's construction with accuracy.
Fifth. They write better compositions, u.s.
ing better language, correctly expressed.
Sixth Those young men WHO have for years
been readers of newspapers, and are always
taking the lead in debating societies, exhibit
more extensive knowledge upon greater va
riety of subjects, and express their views will
greater fluplcy, clearness and correctness