Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-08
NEW NUT CANNIBAL ISLAND
MADE CHRISTIAN BY NATIVES

iusty fighting men. But it was for other
purposes than bloody slaughter Of the
strangers.
On suitable elevation the great chief
gathered his followers and retoid the amax-
ing story of the trial and death of the Man
OF Galilee and how the visitors had been
changed from ferocious sarages to Chris
tian clan. Then he babe his hearers mark
him a willing convert to this new and
peaceful religion. He seized his war club,
and. throwing 1t upon his strong. broad
shoulders. led the people to the most impor-
tant of the heather fanes and in a speech
somewhat violent and yet In reason called
upon them to demolish the place where the
now hated night rites, incantations and
image quackery had so long deceived tneir
ancestors and themselves. He made no
false step In the appeal There were q
few frowns. but only a few who still feared
the threatened ire Of the DETAINED stone
fate of idoantry was sealed, and every
image was destroyed and every building
consecrated to the savage ceremonies was
sent up in flames. Nor did they stop that
good days work until the last OF The
heather shrines lay demolished
Today the LIS inhabitants of that vol
canc island, which before was populated
with as violent, passionate. warlike and out
human banquet, worship God in thirteen
church buildings and all of sufficient age
can read and write.
And this is the reason why the mail from
steamers is thrown upon the wharfiess
shore of New Nut island. which lies in the
midst of the most notorious sea in all the
world. The humanizing, civilizing and
Outstanding of that island population has
not cost white people one solitary cent
In all my lengthy journeys never before
or since have I seen mail flung to its des-
tination in such odd fashion as was done
by the captain of the steamship Hauroto.
and / reckon that nowhere else in the
world Is mail delivered by skyrocket. New
;-f, l,a1f hntvr ayrfna
and Fiji, and has wharfless shore No
body but an expert swimmer should ever
attempt to land. The whole coast, both on
the windward and the lee Sides is as dan
gerous as one will meet in long sail. The
skipper fixed a rocket on the ships bridge.
and the whole thing must have measured
over eight feet in length. He waited unit!
we came around point where the island
reminded me of Molokai. the Land OF tne
Dreadful DEATH" and when close In the
volcanic isle presented very happy and
attractive picture. The whole popuiauon
had turned out to witness the arFlVai OF
the mail from the sky. 1t was an hour
long to be remembered and full OF unusual
excitement and anticipation for the quiet,
simple, intelligent people.
blue light was set on by the captain 70
ignite the rocket. All eyes followed Its
rapid upward course, some on shore with
breathless anxiety lest Ii burst as On
former occasion and blow the mail into
fragments over the sea- This time the
rocket held we'll on it's upward flight, and
1t sped higher and higher as seen from the
ship, until 1t seemed that when 1t did turn
downward 1t would surely fall sheer over
the Island and be lost IN the restless break
ers on the windward side. On shore the
tension Of the people was marked. Finally
the rocket reached the apex Of its ascent,
started In q horizontal course and then
headed downward. With the descent came
a mad rush and scramble on shore, for the
governor had offered prize for the per-
sons bringing the skyrocket mall. I asked
the captain how 1t was that on that sea-
grit bit OF land. with its steep-to shore one
could read the writing after 1t once reached
them. He was unabfe- to tell me, but later
on I met him and had the privilege of fur
nishing the startling information which I
have here detailed.