The herald., 1893-07-10


One curious thing, however, is that
the natives will not eat man who uses
tobacco in any form. They say it makes
the flesh bitter, go I would advise any
| OF you who desire to visit the islands to
| acquire ita use, so you would be safe in
case OF shipwreck on an inhospitable
shore.
Mr. Henry then held up the hip bone
of young girl, who, with her father
and mother, had bean eaten. He called
attention to the fact That the natives
had begun to carve the bone, and evil
IDENTIFY used it for some kind OF an orna-
ment.
Next he ehowed number OF locks OF
mems hair, which the savsges wore
around their loine. These were always
taken from the heads of men slain in
battle. They did not take the scalp as
did the American Indian, but only
selected q single lock, and the one he
held up to view was composed from the
heads of probably so men.
Next a number of grotesque idols
were held up, which are held in great
reverence BY the natives. "These
idols" said he, ''are watched over by a
priest and kept in what is called an idol
house. There they hang head down.
ward until II is necessary to use them.
When that time occurs, the priest
reverently takes down the idol and after
thoroughly oiling it, he dresses it in fan
tastic habliments, places crown of the
red feathers of the tropic bird on it's
head and brings it out for the alteration
of the king and people. These savages
do not believe implicitly in these
images, they merely use them as 60
betweens. They address their prayers
and supplications to the idols and they
are supposed to carry them to the great
spirits they represent.
You would naturally imagine canni-
bal in appearance to be one OF the most
horrible, fiendish and debased OF the
human race. This is and is not go.
Some OF those. inhabiting the New He
brides group are ehoulish and demonaic
in appearance, and there is no doubt
but that all of them we're cannibals un.
til they became christianized.
The Fiji islanders, because of their
dark complexion and the way in which
they dress their hair, convey terror to
beholder. They were very farce and
cannibals of the worst kind. Now, now
ever, they are q mild and gentle race,
and it is the direct result of the sun OF
righteousness which envelops them in
les ray. Where these islanders l5 years
ago were debased man-eaters, today you
can 60 everywhere among them without
fear. would really feel much safer on
dark night and unarmed in the Fiji
islands than / would on the street in
some portions of San Francisco.
You ask what causes have been ex-
erted to produce this result
1t is the saving grace of Almighty
God which has enabled these savages to
give up their former wickedness and
live quiet. peaceful lives.
Although in some of these islands
there is at present spirit of unrest, of
chafng against restraint, and an in
ereasing exhibition of viciousness, it is
the result OF the white traders who 90
among them and who introduce prac-
tices and vices which are detrimental to
the habits and morals oi the natives.
believe if left alone they would be much
better off. 1t is the vices of our go
called Christianity that debases them
and is the cause of all trouble.
Go to an island which has been
christianized and which the white
traders have not entered and intro
duced their liquor and other vices, and
then visit one where the traders are
busily engaged. and note the difference
and the general effect on the morals of
the natives. s&
Old King Kamehamaha of the Sand
wich islands welcomed the traders, and
before long became q drunkard, and all
his subjects. The old king was not a
Christian; he was an idoister. but he
saw the evils liqd0r was introducing.
hio ~ r,onnla onA ha
enough to stand up and compel its being
kept out by strict laws. He continued
to do 80 until an American war vessel
entered the harbor Of Honolulu and COM
PEELED him to suspend the laws and open
his country for the entrance of the rum
merchant. That is matter OF history
which everyone knows.
Then look at the example presented
by those white men who, deserting from
ships or gaining entrance IN other ways,
take up their residence among the ma
tives, and. absorbing all their vices, fell
even lower than the savages themselves,
and are looked upon by them as objects
OF contempt.
1t is not that am in the least looking
with contempt upon the white man and
his commercial projects. What mean
is that civilized man, from the mere
fact of his civilization, when he falls.
will descend to lower depths than bar
barian and savage who knows nothing
of how far civilization will reach.
1t is the example shown which dep.
recate and its detrimental effect UPON
the native, who necessarily suffers in
consequence.
Mr.. Henry then exhibited some in.
teresting curios, which we're afterwards
inspected by many OF the audience.
Notwithstanding the introduction of
Christianity in these islands, continus
he, there are some occurrences which
take place occasionally which cannot be
explained by white people. They
largely partake of the supernatural and
are indeed mysterious.
These islanders are very religious and
will do nothing without invoking the aid