Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-03
EATERS OF HUMAN FLESH.
Tho tannibais of the South Sen
Islands and Their Peculiar ways.

. Tho tnnnfboIs or tho South zen
Islands ana Their Peculiar ways.
During the period throughout which Euro
pcans have been IN contact with the Solomon
islanders, no Characteristic has been, per-
hsps, more common than that Of cannibaism,
says the IpestDihstsr Re0iep. When the
Spania lis first discovered these islands the
man.ea'ing habits Of the natives became
strikir-ty apparent On the occasion Of the
arrival If the ships al the island, which its
discoveries named s. Isabel, the chief of the
natives that they came into contac, with sent
the general (Mcndana) present Of quarter
OF boy, including the arm and hand. to-
ether with some roots, which he had re-
quesie him TO accept
This custom OF sending supply OF vege-
tables along with the human flesh as a pres
ent was practlced along the islands OF the
Fiji group Mariner, in his interesting work
on the Tonga islands, published in 1872. de-
,cr.hes how when he arrived In H.. canoe at
sr entity iug island Of that group, lac found on
the -nore d large crate Of vegetables with girl
sit,lng upon IT, and ascertaned tina, tie two
were about t. he presented AS the material Of
feast 10 the KING OF tue + il islands. Hap.
ply he Rescued the girl from her impending
ia'c.
Referring TO the natives OF the island,
whicn GdilegD named La Florida, he saws:
They ca, human flesh" and elsewhere he
relates that the steward with four soldiers
and 1--WE negroes we're sent shore for water"
tLst their boats having lot aground they
were immediately attacked bg the natives,
who, lying in ambush, rushed upon them aud
did not leave "A single soul except a negrop
belonging TO Gallego; that "all the rest
they hewed to pieces, cutting Off their heads,
arms and legs, tearing ont their tongues and
supping up their brains with great fcrocitv."
De. Guppy mentions, on the authority of n.
H. ROmily, that "the New Ireland cannibas
OF the present day are fond Of a composition of
ssgO. cocOanut ana human brainsn In l1Gs
when the ships OF Bougsinyil.e's expedition
were at Choiseul bay they were attacked by
100 natives In ten canoes two canoes were
captured, and IN one OF them twas found the
jaw OF man half brolcd" Capt Redlich.
master Of the schooner Franz, who visited
Makira, on the south side Of ST Christoval.
in 1872, states that he found dead Gody in a
war canoe dressed and cooked whole. He was
Informed by Perry, resident, that he had
seen as many as twenty bodies lying on the
beach. dressed and cooked. Ia 1868 Mr.
Brenchey noticed at Wano on the north
coast OF this is and the skulls of twenty. We
bushmen hanging up under the roof OF the
Tambu house, ali OF which show the effects
OF tomahawk and all had been eaten"
The natives Of the island of Santa Anna, at
the time DR.. Guppy visited II, abstained from
eating human flesh several years ago on &C.
count OF Il severe epidemic of sickness hav ing
followed a canbsl feast Nevertheless, Nal
the war chief Of this island, has acquired a
considerable fortune in native point OF view.
by following the profitable calling of purvey or
OF human flesh 10 tue man-eaters Of the ada
cent coasts OF ST. ChristOval-a trade in which
he Is ably assisted by those who accompany
him on his forsging expeditions" This chef
is In the habit OF Keeping human beings whom
he had captured and fa'tening them for the
market Dr.. Guppy mentions two prisoners
whom he succeeded IN rescung from the
hands OF this monster. When DR. Guppv Wis.
tied a village on the north coast OF ST. Chris.
tOyal, and saw the chief, named Toro. who
received Him ciyIlly and shook hands with
him, lie noticed that outside the front Of the
chiefs house five skulls were hanging which
belonged 10 some unfortunate bushmcn who
bad fallen at his hands. On inquiry Of ma.
tive who spoke little English," saws Dr.
Guppy, Il asccrtaiucd that their bodies had
been kaied daied'-that Is, eaten-although
il was with little hesitation that he admit.
ted the fact.
The Shorthand natives accredlt the Bou-
granville people who I've around the active
volcano at Bagana, with the regular practice
Of cannibalism, and there can be little doubt
that this custom is extensively practiced
among the scarcely known bush tribes i'm the
interior Of this large island. or Ia. natives
Of New Georgia or Rubiana Capt. Cheyeuc
ayers that human flesh forms the r chief art.
Gle Of Diet" The doctor observes "Itis dif.
iicult TO speculate on the reflections Of the
victim as he lives from day to day In constant
expectation OF his fate" There is no reason
10 believe that tins expectation does not pro.
duce the agonizing terror which most Europe.
ans under like circumstances would expert.
cnce.
I'm the time not far distant, when cannibal-
ism prevailed in New Zealand. II was occa-
sionally, at all events, the custom OF a chief
when starting on war expedition to take
with him fastened together, a number OF men
whom he already held as captivss; these men
served a living lardcr. Eich Of them knew
that his turn TO BE- killed and eaten would
come; nevertheless, with the certainty OF his
doom before him he partook OF each OF his
fellows whose death preceded his own; and
Capt Wilkes IN his account OF his exploring
expedition, stated that King Thankambau
appropriated one Of the small islands OF the
FIJI group "a = human preserve. Every man
imprisoned there knew that he would ulti
matelr serve as food for his maiestv. aud such
alike were The LOYALTY and indifference t.
death OF these victims that. When questioned
by Capt. Wilkes 80 10 their feelings on the
matter, they expressed kind OF acqu escence
in their fac. aud used words 10 the effect
that IT was quite proper that the king should
be thus provided for.