The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-09-04
SLAVERY IN EiJl.
what British "CivlIisation" Has Done FOR
the Ex-Cnnniba1s.


the Ex-Canniba1s.
1t certainly seems strange anomaly
that we .'Britishers," who have gone
about the whole of the habitable globe,
ever foremost in the abolition of slnv-
cry, should have taken such very great
pains to re-establish most undcniablc
form of slavery as soon MS we annexed
Fiji Great Britain only consented, un-
der pressure from Australia, TO replace
King Thakombau on the understanding
'that Fiji was to be governed for the
benefit of the Fiiians." No doubt, from
certain point Of view, notably that of
Sir Arthur Gordon. the former Govern
or, and Sir VIM. Des VGux, the pres
ent one, this understanding has been
carried out; but, unfortunately, opin-
ions materially differ rs to whether
''the Fijians" mean the chiefs (or
"local nobility') or the commoners.
Certainly Fiji has been governed "for
the benefit of the chiefs, who, backed
up in every one of their aggressions on
their serfs (for they are nothing m ORGY
by Government House, have grown rich
and prospered exceedingly. Tho au-
thority OF these chiefs was confirmed by
England for several reasons, chiefly that
they were practically the representa-
tives or delegates of the people, and
that if the chiefs were brought into con-
tact with civilization, it could, through
them, reach the people in the pleasantest
and easiest fashion.
Unfortunately what the chief under
stood by civilization took a practical
form very speedily. Manchester goods
were very pleasant evidences of cviliza-
ton, preserved meats were toothsome;
and the chiefs also found superior merits
in boats and cutters built on European
lines. But all these things meant
money, and to get money was
easy enough to men who were per-
fectly we'll aware that they were
privileged beings IN the eyes of the Of
ficials at Government House. What
native chief might do to native COM
moner mattered little to the Governor
who had ratified to the former the right
to do practically rs he pleased SO long
as he avoided cannibalism. Native
customs were to be scrupulously respect
ed;" and the native custom of Lala was
the very thing as lever for money rails
ing in the hands of the chiefs. The right
of Lala is the right possessed by the
chiefs to collect indiscriminate taxes mt
their own will and for their own uses;
and in old days this feudal right was
seldom abused for two excellent rea-
sons. Firstly, before the arrival Of the
Europeans and their civilization, the
chiefs had but few wants beyond a house
and food; and. secondly, because the
chiefs knew quite well that if they OPP
pressed the people they would be de-
posed and clubbed to death. Even be-
fore the annexation, the growing influx
of trade was raising the greed of good
things in the chiefs with SO distinct an
effect in the matter of Lala that the old
Fiji Government was doing its best to
break down this feudal right; and it
was in the hope of doing this still more
efiectually that annexation was so
however, OF doing any thing of the
govern through ch cfs by the old feudal
system, and the Lala was not only not
broken down, but was revived in far
greater force than before without any of
its Old restrictions. 1t can easily be
imagined, therefore, what Lala is made
to mean in the hands of the men intrust-
ed with such absolute power. What
ever the chief wants in town or country
he gets, and his people have to pay.
Resistance is out of the question for
them, for they know that the chief is
supported by the British Governor.
They have nothing which belongs to
them; every little possession on which
money can b. raised may be, and gen.
orally is, seized and sold by the chief.
They plant but few yams (their staple
food); for, if they do, they know the
chief will seize the crop. Ii the women
and children are hungry, they endure
their hunger with sullen. hopeless pa
ticnc,, or go and grub for wild roots in
the bush to satisfy their cravings. One
night planter was awakened by ma
tive who begged 10 be allowed to place
his two pigs in the planters outhouse;
the chief was to be round mt the village
next morning, and, though the pigs
were all this native possessed, he knew
they would be taken fro IN him. Only
by bringing them under cover of the
night to the planter could he hope
to keep them. If native under
takes work on a plantation, he is liable
to be called off for Lala by the chief. If
he has received any wages, the chief can
take them from him; if he plants food,
the chief can sell it.-LOndon Saturday
RevieW.