The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-06-21
LIFE IN THE PACIFIC.
A Visit to the Feroclous and savage Ma
lives of Horne Island.

A Visit to the FerocIous and savage Ma
tives of Horne Island.
Among the myriad islands which dot
the surface of the South Pacific Ocean,
is a little island about ten miles in
diameter, lying near The Fiji rOup,
called Horne Island. Its climate and
productions are nearly similar to those
of the Sand witch Islands. It's inhabi-
tants are dark ConploxiOned, and are
said to be the most feroCious and savage
of any in Polynesia. In old times they
were cannibals. A correspondent gives
the following description Of "A visit to
these interesting people several years
ago:
o our approach, we were immedi-
atoly surrounded by twenty or thirty
canoes, filled with no most hideous
looking wretch"s over boheld. Their
hair, which is long and very coarse,
stands erect, giving them 4 most fero-
cions appearances; and they kept up
such an unaarthly yelling, being over
joyed to sec us, that wa finally came to
the conclusion that W. had by mistake
discovered "A small corner of the Internal
regions. After satisfying their curl
oSity and asccrtaining our wants, they
Immediately returned to tho shore to
satisfy than. and In a short tune SOW
eral canoes came alongside iilled with
tho choicest productions OF tho island,
consisting of hogs, fowls, yams. cocoa
nut and fruits of all kinds. Then COM
monced a trade unsurpassed by any rag
fair in Europe, but wo were not a little
surprised to find that our money was of
no value To them, and they refused to
take it, therefore a regular barter COM
meaced. uid shirts, handkerchists.
pipes, tobacco and fancy trinkets took
we'll with them.
Our captain being an old Cape. Cod
Yankee. who had been seafarinR for
forty years, understood we'll what was
required for traffic with the natives, and
having. Of course. come prepared for the
occasion. laid in forty hogs. two hum
dred fowls, a large supply of vans,
~cocoa-nuts, etc, in exchange for what
cost him not over fifteen dollars, in the
shape of red flannel, knives, hatchets
and beads, 1t is quito amusing to SOC
him bargain for his supplies, especially
the yams which grow here to a size of
some fifteen or twonty pounds. One
percussion cap was to be given for ono
VAN. but tho 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 samo time
stretching his Dyes and extending his
hands to describe the size
Owing to the difficulty of procuring
water, the vessel was detained at the
island eight days, during which I paid
frequent visits to the shore and became
quite intimate with the king and all
tho nobility. The king was a black,
rough-looking fellow, six feet six inches
In height His entire wardrobe con
| sisted of an old flannel shirt and a Pan
ANA hat The costume of the other
members of the family was even moro
limited.
Tho mode OF cooking food among
these people Is similar to that OF the
Sand witch Islanders Thoy bake their
God in an ovon or shallow hole dug in
the ground, in the bottom Of which d fiat
stone Is laid, imbedded in mud. and
when 1t is sufficiently heated, the Goals
arc taken out aud several layers Of
leaves spread on the stones, after which
the vans, plantains. bananas, etc, are
carefully laid In. and 4 layer Of caves
laid over the whole. which is quickly
covered with earth. BY this means the
steam IS confined. and vegetables cool
In a very short tirno. When taken out
Of the fiery bed smoking and eaten with
milk Of the young c~ocoa-nut, they can
not no pronounced u bad dish IN Y.
Ledger.