The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-12-04
MARQUESAS
CANN|BALS
What Kamaainas Recall
OF Their Habits.
THEY DID. EAT HUMANS
new Mr.. kskeIa Presented With
Watch for Saving In
tended Victim.

- t,u' vas favOrlte diver
SION OF inhabitants or the Ma
e. 1 sa isNsnds. "A bright discussion 4
ny interesting subjest vas a. oasei re
Su,v Dy Two Englishmen. woo wer.
10y lh the land of the caanibals
, ~ no man In all Hawaii VIII,
.S say more to the point on ina
nan he*. Mr.. kekela, VINO made ~
M" ess at Waikiki few days ago
49,, returned a year ago from tins
malquesas Islands after forty-eigbt
years OF missionary work. He i
90 years old, but Is preparing
~ 70 go again 10 the scene of his labors
eIy time Mr.. kekela looks an hi.
Sa.ch ne Is forcibly reminded of the
uegrsdation of his former flock. tor tins
Wateh-a magnificent gold timeuiece-
was given TO him by Abraham Liz,
president OF the United states. for
saNlhg the life OF an American sailor
VINO was about to be spitted by the
hungry gourmets of Marquesas. The
late hev Asa Thurston belieyed in the
Cannloallsm OF the islanders for no
saw parts OF body salted in a mans
nut, on visit to the Marquesas.
number of old-timers were asked
What they remembered of the belief
Ia the matter In early days.
What do | remember about canni-
Dalism In the Marquesas Islauds7D re-
peated DIR. Serene Bishop. They were
VIGOROUSLY gross cannibals: they were
among the grossest in the world. far
exceeding the New Zealanders. and as
bad as the Fiji Islanders.
Those are the three types of can
nioalism In the group of islands The
rest OF the Polynesian Islands are free
from cannibalism. II was very preya-
lent among the Negroid tribes. The
Melanesia Island tribes were known TO
De savage cann.bals. They are pure
negro In type. with all the Character
istios OF the race-woolly hair. thick
protruding lips, full lids. and white
teeth. They are black in color. But
they are quite a different division. YOU
understand.
The Marquesas Islands are inter
sected by ravines or deep gulches or
valleys. In each valley dwells a tribe.
To reach these valleys is a difficult
matter. You cannot go around by
water. and the tribes on the high lands
mns go down into them to reach the
other side. The valley tribes then war
upon them. and the captives taken by
either side are generally killed and
eaten.
II thought the French. who have
rigid discipline with their
soldiers and RNdarmes. had succeeded
In crushing 01t cannibalism: but no
doubt these valley tribes are still able
10 indulge in their favorite pastime on
the sly. ! Judge that IL would be a
most difficult matter To- entirely con-
troll them. for cannibalism Is a cher
lshed tradition to them. transmitted
from chief 20 chief. for hundreds OF
years, probably
Professor Alexander said. II am
afraid I can give you but little infor-
nation upon the subject OF the alleged
Of the Marquesas Islands
Today. I am not prepared to answer
your question, but I refer you to my
brothers. book as 70 their former can
nibalfsm.
Robert Louis Stevenson also wrote
truthfully upon the subject in his
book, and my brother. James Alexan-
Ter. who followed him down there
shortly after. fully verifies all his
But a. TO cannibalism to-
I am sorry l cannot speak
more fully.
II will tell you a little story my
brother once told me. He was in Mar
luesas az the time visiting the gover-
nor. and he said. Governor. II you (
we're to remove your gendarmes, your
Priests and your teachers, what would .
They would become bowling saw
lges
Worse than that. said his wife. [
they would become cannibals.'
II have not a very vivid remem-
france Of the Marquesas Islands"
aid Mr.. n. NJ Whitney: The North
Pacific Islands have usually been re-
farded as being particularly free from
hat obnoxious vice. whereas the ISL i
Inds In the South Pacific were motor
Gus for a. Personally, I very much
Ioubt that such a state of affairs does
xist today. among the Marquesas, but ,
may be mistaken. | have not looked :
nto the matter at all OF late years, nor
ave I read the recently published ac-
cunts In the newspapers. We all
now II did exist very many years ago.
'ut understood the French had ,
tamped II out. l.
AS far as that goes. cannibalism.
'elieve. existed In a moderate form in
forth America in its earliest days. and
lso Ia other places"
When approached upon the subject. i
he Rev. O, N. Gulick said: II visited Z
he Marquesas Islands In 1857. think.
wal, az that time an officer on board
he missionary ship Morning Star. II,
ras not there for any length of time. /
owever. Only few days. you may q
ay. But | can assure you that liz
either saw nor heard anything OF
during my visit. Certain
y. 10 existed previous to 81; that. is !
historical. But hat II exists today,
nder French rule. | do not believe.
he French govern very strictly.
Besides. we have an Hawaiian mis- '
losary down there now. Rev. Mr..
who would most certain $
, report 10 the board any cases that
. heard OF. And we have another {
Missionary here. who has only recently 9
from those islands-aboutl {
even or eight months ago--and he Z