Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-05

full opiate. Leaving him with his
friends, the captain and went for q
walk through the village. Eyerywhere
the natives were very civil. Offering US
cocoanuts and food, and even the wo-
men and children did not show much
fear at our presence.
Returning to the house, we found
our friend was awake and sitting up
on his mat He smiled affably at US
and rubbed noses with me, practice
had never before seen among the
Melanesians of this part Of the Pacific.
Then he told US that the women
folk were preparing US meal which
would soon be ready. asked him
gravely through the interpreter not to
serve us any human flesh. He replied
quite calmly that there was none left
the last had been eaten five days be-
fore.
Presently the meal was carried in
baked pork, an immense fish Of the
mullet kind, yams, tora, and an enor-
nous quantity of sugar cane and pine
apples. The women did not eat with
US, but sat apart.
Our friend, whose name was Darro.
had six wives, four Of whom were
present He had also a number Of fe-
male slaves, taken from an island In
Vitiza Straits. These were rather light
skinned, and some quite good looking,
and all wore girdles Of dracaena leaves.
Neither Darrc nor his people smok-
ed, though they knew the use Of pipe
and tobacco, and at one time had been
given both by a sandalwood ship. I
promised them a present Of O ten
pound case Of plug tobacco and a gross
Of clay pipes-I was thinking Of re-
cruits. / sent off to the brig for the
present and when It arrived and had
given nearly $50 cannibals a pipe and
plug of tobacco each. the interpre-
er and I got to work with Darro on
the subject Of our mission.
Alas! He would not entertain the
idea Of any Of his fighting men going
to an unknown land for three years.
We could have, perhaps, a score or so
Of women--widows or slaves. Would
that suit us? No, said. We did not
want single women or widows. There
must be man to each woman.
Darro was very sorry ESQ was -.
But perhaps I and the captain would
accept two Of the youngest Of his fe-
male slaves as token of his regard
for US.
Morel and consulted, and then we
asked Darro IL he could not give US
two slave couples--two men and two
women who would be willing to mar
ry, and also willing to go to a country
and work-a country where they
would be we'll treated, and paid for
their labor. At the end of that time
they would be brought back to Darro,
II they so desired.
Darro smiled and gave some orders,
and two strapping young men and two
pleasant faced young women were
brought for my inspection. All were
smiling, and I felt that bishop and q
brass band ought to have been present
to have performed the marriage cere-
mony.
- These were the only blackbirds we
secured on that voyage from Rook Is
land: but three and half years Ia
ter, when these two couples returned
to Darro, with vast" wealth of
trade goods. estimated at trade prices
at f72, Darro never refused to let
some Of his young men recruit for
Fiji or Samoa.
I never saw him again. but he sent
messages to me by other blackbirdipg
vessels, saying that he would like me
TO come and stay with him.
And, although he had told me that
he had. personally, partaken Of the
flesh of over ninety men, shall al
ways remember him as a very gentle
manly man, courteous, hospitable, and
friendly, and who was horror struck
when my interpreter told him that In
England cousins intermarried.
"That is horrid, an unutterable
thing! 1t is inconceivable to US. 1t
is vile, wicked and shameless. How
can you clever white men do such
things?"
Darro and his people knew the ter
rors Of the abuse Of the laws of con-
sanguinity.-New York Sun.