The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-13
NEW HEBRIDES CANNIBALS.
A MISSTONIRr Talks OF SAVAGE
IR.EC7!CES Nv MELANESTl.

They Keep Up the vIg,r OF the Race by
sncriccing Cownrds. wcnsitns-. and
widows-Prisoners OF War they Ea'-
Their National beverage, Kava, wou,d
Make IA Quaker Fighting Dunk.
There are isands-ono in rar.iculnr-in tho
New Hebrides group where cannibalism. in
tanticiuc. human sacriflccs. murder OF Wild
ows, and tnhumun warfDro nro still revored
social. religious and martial customs Of tho
people. This ia testified to In sorrow bv tho
lost possible Witness tho venerable and Rev.
John G. Patton. who has passed thirty-four
years OF his life in tho llebrltles teaching tho
natives about Jesus and his love. DR., Patton Is
now in New ior; lecturing for the benefit of u
iund to Increase tho work in his missionary
Held AStS reporter met him In the rooms OF
the Prcshyt,riun Board Of Foreign Missions.
% Fifth avon,ic. aud learned many interest
Ing facts about thu customs Of the islanders.
The group. which extends for over 800 miles
In length In tlrc west Pacific. is known as Nc
lanssia. Soma ono has invented the word
ncgroid' to describe the physical charac-
teristic Of its dark. black, crisp. curly haired
inhabitants. While the missionaries have
madc many converts OH tho islands. on one.
the Island OF Tannn. Christianity has never
gained "A foothold. and there It's 1900 natives
still pray to The Spirit vui. which is incor.
porated in stone idols. which they believe de-
mhnds. besides prayers, offerings OF shell
money. of food. and Of human lives
There seems to be phase OF something ap-
pronching political economy in tho selection
Of the human sacrifices. for to some extcnt
there is observed II systcm which conserves to
the State its best fighters and wealth. pro-
duccrs. and ribs it of its least desirable men.
IL bad luck ia battle. or husbandry. or fish
ing suggests to tho chiefs and sacred men
that Vui would DO more liberal in his distrlbu-
tion OF favors II so,no people wero killed be-
fore II Stone idol. it never happens that tho
men who are most adopt with tho bow and
arrow. most accurate with tho spear. and
deadly with the war club. or even those who
are famous canoists or fishermen. nre knocked
in the head as sacrifices. Those who are con-
spicuous in the rear when the battle is hot,
who are clumsy in handling tho paddle are
more likely to get their uuietus ut such times.
There is another tribesmun whose life is sure
to he thought necessary to obtain Nurs good
offices. and he is the fellow who has failed to
revenge an insult offered to him through his
intended bride.
A male infants father buys wife for his
son. That is. the female infant. for whom a
price has been paid to its parents. is engaged
to the boy for whom she has been bought. and
she is impressed with this as soon as her
young idea is capable OF Graspng the fact.
All tho members Of the tribe are told Of the
engagem ent also. and this bit OF society nows
is intended to warn of young men from
that girl when she Is old enough TO begin
| making negroid eyes Flirting in other
words. is not popular. An engaged young
man must not have his mind distracted from
the pleasures Of war by the bore OF looking
after his hest girl Tho 400 of Tanna do not ex-
rect a lover to take his sweetheart to the most
popular cocoa grove or coral beach to keep
her heart from straying. and it disapproves
violently OF any such performance between
tho tcketed bride-clect and any other Young
| man. II. however. any other young m N mis-
behaves to quote DR.. laton's language. .",or
elect" society demands that her acknowlel liz ell
lover sh all kill he foolish young man guilty OF
| that misbehavior. If he does not do SO it
show. him la"king in warlike spirit and the
next time there is II religious ceremony. in
GLIDING IA human sacrifice. that unwarlike
lover is certain 10 he selected by the chief and
sacred men tV be dubbed to death before =
stone idol