Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-04-22
A FEAST FOR CANNIBALS.
Thomas Duncan Met q Horrible Fate
in the New Hebrides
by the Natives.

L
Australia comes horrible story of a
white man being devoured by canni-
balls in the New Hebrides, far down in
the South Pacific. Thomas Duncan, a
peaceable trader among the treacher-
ous natives, was frat fattened and
then killed for the feast. Brown men
who professed to be his friends and
enjoyed his hospitality subjected the
unfortunate Duncan to a frightful or
| deal.
When it wes decided that feast
would be in order the victim was
bound to tree and fed for three days.
Then, when considered fat enough, he
was served at a tribal banquet, with
the usual ceremonies attending such
orgies.
T Duncan was man well known and
we'll liked in Sydney, where the news
of his fate was received short time
ago. He arrived in Australia from
South Africa last year, with plenty of
money and an ambition to trade among
his intention of locating in the New
Hebrldes his friends warned him of
danger. The cruel and treacherous
nature of these savages was pointed
out to Duncan, but he said he did not
fear the natives. He was peaceable
man himself, he said, and had made
firm friends among the wild tribes of
Africa. So, disregarding all advice,
Duncan fitted out a schooner for trad
ing and sailed away on his last expe-
dition.
The natives received him kindly.
All the big chiefs joined in a pow
WOW, bade the trader to feast in his
honor and said he was their white
brother. Then the chiefs called the
people together and built a large
native house for Duncan, in which he
laid out his stock of goods. Being the
ouly trader there he was literally
patronized. The natives soon bought
him out, promising to pay for value
received when they had cut their
copra and secured enough coral.
DUNCAN MADE A PRISONER.
But one morning while Duncan sat
smoking in the door of his house, two
gigantic savages pounced upon his
back. They bound him hand and foot
and fastened him to a tree in sitting
posture and with his back to the
trunk. A general call for the eanni-
bal population was then issued, and
the hapless trader sat and watched the
for an elaborate feast.
At first he did not realize the intent
of his captors. But when a huge holz
low was scooped in the sand, filed
with round stones and heaped high |
with firewood, Duncan knew that his |
end was not far off. For three days
The savages, under the direction of an |
aged cannibal who had attended such |
functions before, pursued systematic |
process. They literally stuff
sd Duncan on native dishes and can
ned goods from his own store.
FOOD FORCED UPON HIM.
Young pigs baked in the ground,
with taro root, a species of sweet po-
5ato, were forced upon the man, who |
mad no appetite. But they compelled
MIN to eat. Steamed bananas, she'll
fish, game, wild fruits and native |
drinks were served in turn until Dun
,an was considered fat enough to
tickle the palate OF the chief and his
invited guests.
At the end of three days, stuffed to
repletion and nearly dead with horror
and fear, the headsman did his work
and the body was prepared for the |
oven. When the pile of wood, lighted |
some time previous, had burned down,
part of the-red hot stones were re-
moved from the pit. With the re-
cobbles spread in a layer at
The bottom Duncan was laid thereon |
and covered with hot stones. Over |
this were placed thick layers of green |
banana leaves, and the whole banked |
over with damp earth and brush.
In this crude oven the feast was
round which the guests as
sembled with weird songs of rejoicing. |
Members of the royal households from |
islands were present and
the ghastly spread passed off with |
what the host no doubt considered
great eclat.
WOMEN AT THE FEAST.
The women and children even join
ed in the festival, which, supplement-
ed with other viands, lasted one day
and night. The traders stock of
liquor, mostly gin, was appropriated
for the occasion, and under the in
fuence of the fiery stuff the hideous
scene was prolonged. Huge bonfires
were started at night around which
the cannibal crew, mad with drink and
frenzied by the taste of human flesh,
danced until daylight.
~>N MeElREeY =