Evening star., 1896-12-31
CANNIBAL KING WEEDS.
Miss Collin Married to OumRlia. Nom
arch Of n Pacific Island Group.

Colonel John F. Hobbs. King Oumalie Of
married last night to Miss Ella Collin. at
the latter's home, says today's New York
Journal. Immediately following the cere-
mony The king, in the Kanaka language.
proclaimed his bride queen of his kingdom.
The king was not costumed in robes of
ermine, but wore a conventional dress suit,
while his bride wore gown Of white satin
and trlle with orange blossoms.
The ceremony was the simple one of the
Lutheran Church, and as the minister pro-
claimed the couple man and wife the royal
groom raised his hand above the brides
head and in slow, deliberate tone spoke
in Kanaka. As he concluded his secretary
translated the few sentences which, he
said, were:
LAS take you MI alie to my royal house
1 make you queen of women on my throne"
The word mi alie." the groom explained
Ia ter, Is equivalent to my souls spirit"
which in the South Sea Islands is regarded
as the highest term that can be applied to
a woman.
King Oumalie is an American and a ma
tive of NewbeTry, s c., where he obtained
his title a member of Governor Simp-
sons staff He was journalist, assigned
to the task of investigating the Samoan
ldDOT pTOD1em III the Spt1n& OF 1870.
1T all seems like dream" he said last
night. after the ceremony. II was ship
wrecked on the coast of New Hebrides. in
the South seas. Perhaps nay white face
perhaps it ives my training a newspaper
reporter that made me a king, instead of
being put to death.
Then he related how two Of the stronger
tribe were about to go to war. The mill
tary strength of one was 1,J00 warriors
and that of the other one-third the num-
ber. He was found by the latter and in
stead of being killed and eaten they made
him understand the situation. He found
their mode of warfare was for the chiefs
to engage III battle with the chiefs of the
opposing tribes and the ordinary warriors
to follow. He ambushed a few hundred
warriors, then sent decoy chiefs into the
field. In half an hour the stronger tribe
had lost a couple of hundred men and the
great battle fer which both sides had been
preparing for five years was won by the
weaker tribe.
King O'MeIie Of the latter was so pleased
with the victory that he made Colonel
Hobbs an honored guest, and then partook
of such a large repast of roast pig stuffed
with bar anas that he died. He had no heir
to succeed him and a revolution was threat
ened. Half the population of 1000 ma
tives wanted the military chief tc be pro-
claimed king, and the other half favored
the civil chief. It meant the raising in
power of one family and the lowering of
another. Then an old native suggested that
the stranger who mad saved their country
be made their king The idea grew in pop
ularity. The matter WAS laid before Col
onel Hobbs His consent had provisions at
tached to it that they did not at first take
kindly to. He wanted cannibalism abolish
ed. If they would agree to this he would
be their king, otherwise the Great White
Spirit commanded him to leave them.
They consented, and he was proclaimed
king and for six years has refgEed.
The Few queen Of the islands Is the eldest
daughter of a tailor. she said last night
that she did not wish to be queen Of her
husbands subjects, but simply his queen,
and she would endeavor to persuade him to
spend most of his time in this country.
Col. Hobbs and his bride will leave to-
day for Washington, after which they will
visit South Carolina. The date of their
return to their kingdom has not been set
tied.