The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-07-31
LIFE IN The PACIFIC.
A Visit to the Ferocious and Savage Ma
tives of Horne Island.


tives of Horne Island.
Among the myriad islands which dot
the surface of the South Pacific Ocean,
is little island about ten miles in
diameter, lying near the Fiji group,
called Horne Island. It's climate and
productions are nearly similar to those
of the Sandwich Islands. Its inhabi-
tants are dark complexioned, and are
said to be the most ferocious and savage
of any in Polynesia. In old times they
we're cannibals. A correspondent gives
the following description of a visit to
these interesting people several years
ago:
ION our approach, we were i1nmedi-
ately surrounded by twenty or thirty
canoes, filed with the most hideous-
looking wretches ever beheld. Their
hair, which is long and very coarse,
stands erect, giving them most fero-
cious appearances; and they kept up
such an unearthly yelling, being over
joyed to see US, that we finally came to
the conclusion that we had by mistake.
discovered small corner of the internal
regions. After satisfying their curl
osity and ascertaining our wants, they
Immediately returned to the shore to
satisfy them, and in a short time sew
eral canoes came alongside filed with
the choicest productions of the island,
consisting of hogs, fowls, yams, cocoa
nut and fruits of all kinds. Then COM
meneed trade unsurpassed by any rag
fair in Europe; but we were not little
surprised to find that our money was of
no value to them, and they refused to
take it, therefore regular barter COM
menced. Old shirts, handkerchiefs,
pipes, tobacco and fancy trinkets took
we'll with them.
''Our captain being an old Cape Cod
Yankee, who had been seafaring for
forty years, understood well what was
required for traffic with the natives, and
having, of course, come prepared for the
occasion, laid in forty hogs, two hun
dred fowls, a large supply of yams,
cocoa-nuts, ETC., in exchange for what
cost him not over fifteen dollars, in the
| shape of red flannel. knives, hatchets
and beads, It is quite amusing to see
him bargain for his supplies, especially
| the yams which grow here to a size OF
some fifteen or twenty pounds. One
percussion cap was to be given for one
! yam, but the old sea-cook, not being
satisfied by taking small and great as
they came, would repeatedly impress
upon the natives the necessity of bring
ing large yams, by saying: One cap,
one yam, big yam,' at the same time
stretching his eyes and extending his
hands to describe the size.
sowing to the difficulty of procuring
water, the vessel was detained at the
island eight days, during which l PAID
frequent visits to the shore and became
quite intimate with the king and al
the nobility. The king was a black
rough-looking fellow, six feet six inche!
in height His entire wardrobe con
sisted of an old flannel shirt and Pan
anna hat. The costume of the othe1
members of the family was even more
limited.
1.-THE mode of cooking food among
these people is similar to that of the
Sandwich Islanders. They bake thei
food in an oven or shallow hole dug il
the ground, in the bottom of which fla
stone is laid, imbedded in mud, ant
when it is sufficiently heated, the coal
are taken out and several layers o
leaves spread on the stones, after whicl
the yams, plantains, bananas, ETC., ar
carefully laid in, and layer of leave
laid over the whole, which is duickl
covered with earth. By this means tn
steam is confined, and vegetables COO
In very short time. When taken ou
of the fiery bed smoking and eaten wit
milk of the young cocoa-nut, they Ca
not be pronounced bad dish IN. Y
Ledger.