The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-01
BRoILEp GIRL FOR NEW YEARS.

Now Part of the Society Islands Are
Asking for an American Protectorate.
From the New York Herald.
81 came in to tell YOU OF some OF the
vessels that the Herald has reported los"
said Capt Frank B. Sch,ll yesterday. 81
have been trading with the Society, and
particularly the Marquesas, islandsfor the
last ten years. used to come across u
Herald ont there or when / touched at
San Francisco or Hong Kong, where |
went occasionally TO sell fungi, and when
I noticed these lost ships made note OF
those knew anything about and thought
the Herald would be glad TO clear up these
mysteries. Nearly all Of them / knew
anything about came TO grief in the tidal
waves that visit these islands Of the Pacific.
Why, during the last ten years, ] should
say not less than 5000 natives have been
swept from these coasts by tidal waves"
"Why, that must have made q big hole
In the population
eyes, II did. suppose the population
OF the port Of Pspcete, which is the capital
OF Tahiti, would be about 1000, and there
are not many more than that number on
the rest OF the islands forming the Mar
quesas group. This tidal wave business,
and an occasional broil OF babies or we'll
fed boys and girls, keeps the native popu-
lation fairly within bounds"
''You mean that cannibalism is still
practiced there?' he was asked.
The conversation, il will he observed, had
strayed entirely away from the object OF
the interview, but in regard TO the missing
vessels lost in these seas II must be said
that the Herald had already received inior.
nation months or perhaps years ago
Capt. Schall was glad TO hear these mys-
teries had been cleared up.
"Cannibalism? Why, OF course, there
is, especially on two OF the islands Of the
fourteen. Last New Years day my
schooner was anchored in the bay of Han
iapi, and had all my men out collecting
a cargo Of cotton, cobra, fungi, etc. Pres
emily there came down "A nice little party
OF natives. OF about 100 or so. They
built fire on the shore, danced around
for time and then started IN what looked
like a real old fashioned clambake.
"You would have thought il clambake
IL YOU had been there. But knew better.
| watched them carefully and saw six
grown pe7sons-nlen and women-killed
and hung up 10 roast.
"By the way. there was one piece OF
cannibalism | saw which had a spice OF
romance in IL. A native got mad with,
probably jealous OF, the woman he lived
with. He killed her, cut her heart out,
and, having toasted II 10 a tnm ON q
sharpened stick, ate IL with evident relish.
What do you think oithat2
Frhe island OF Dominique is cannibal
although the father superior OF all the
Catholic institutions in the islands lives
there. One time he paid me handsomely
for carrying away on my schooner young
man the natives had decided 10 make O
dish OF.
"No, they never intcricrcd with me in
INV trading or tried 10 eat any Of my men,
They seem 10 cOnlinc their appctiics "a
natives. Besides which they have quite q
friendship for Americans, aud the whole
native population oi these islands ARE IN
hopcs of somehow obtaining United
States protectou,le. Their principal idea
in this Is 10 escape the clutches of France.
She now holds al the Niarlucsas group
except one, and also one of the Society
) islands. She has had Roman Catholic
, institutions there for over forty years
Recently the Mormons OF the United State
! have gone out there, probably with tho
, idea OF forming new ltah u the law rum
them too close at home. But the liomal
Catholics are lighting them tooth and nail
70 aud, as Mormons. they can not get per
7 init OF residence, which j. always n neccs
? sity before anybody can settle there.
, "Oi course the Roman Catholic mission
aries will ask French aid TO drive thcs'
. Mormons out Then probably the French
20 make Il pay, will annex the Who'll
I a. H.. Nla.aA
g ety. islands, and We will not be- pcrmttc'
= To trade there. These islands are yer
prolific. and think the United State
: ought To take hold Of them while she LA
. such an easy chance OF doing 80"