The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-07-24
Conflict Between Punitive Expedition
and Fifteen Hundred
Natives.
TWO TRADERS ARE ATTACKED
Sacred Temple Burned by Govern
ment and Gods Confscated--
Bungling Police Work.

The work of Furnishing the natives
of the Ul1iaravi tribe for their attack !
on two white men six weeks ago has !
just been completed, after a series of |
exciting incidents, involving a conflict |
between the punitive expedition and
body of 1900 natives, of whom two
were killed. About the end of March |
last Mr. Buchanan, a well-known !
trader, was visiting the native town of
Kaimare, on the Purari delta, accom-
panied by another trader named Char
pentier The inhabitants, who are
heather and cannibal, but not on the
whole unfriendly to white people, told
Mr.. Buchanan that there was a small
village called Morohai, near Port Ro-
milly, whose people had been nearly
eaten out by the Ukiaravi, very wild
and dangerous neighboring tribe. Mr..
Buchanan went away to report the at
fair to Mr.. Higginson, the resident
magistrate of the district. On the way
back to Kaimare he was met by the
! Ukiaravi tribe in q war canoes, 400
strong in all, armed with bows and
spears, and decked out in full war
paint and feathers. They instantly at
/ tackled Mr.. Buchanan's small party,
and fought them all the way down to
Kaimare, the friendly village, where
they retreated, seven men having been
wounded by the white men rifles.
| Mr. Buchanans party got off with a
single arrow wound to a native.
"The outrage was reported to Mr..
Higginson at the government station.
He sent word to Port Moresby, and,
not expecting to hear anything from
the Administrator for some time (the
Merrie England being away in the
Eastern division), went off at once to
settle the disturbance himself, so far
as he could. He took Is native police,
armed with rifles and with this mere
handful invaded the village of the
Ukiaravi, who were known to have
a force of at least 1900 available fight
ing men. The whole tribe turned out
and attacked the government officer,
who found himself unable to make any
arrests. After four men of the gov
eminent side had been wounded, and
two of the enemy killed, besides three
wounded, the Ukiaravi cleared off into
the scrub, and left the victory to the
government. The ringleaders in the
attack upon the traders, however, were
still unsecured BY this time the mes
sage had reached Port MoresDy, and
the Merrie England left there with
Judge Murray, the acting Administra-
tor, on board, also six government Of
ficials, and several native police. Hav-
ing Joined Mr.. Higginson's party, the
combined force started for Ukiaravi,
the headquarters of the offending
tribe. The government party reached
UkiaraYi next day, and the chief was
informed that the government party
did not wish to kin anyone, but that
they must have the ringleaders in the
recent outrage given up to them to be
taken away and put in prison. If they
were not given the ravis Immense
temples built with much art and care,
and very valuable to the natives)
would be burned After considerable
delay ten chiefs were reluctantly
brought in and given up. Two more,
who had been specially active in the
attack, were demanded, and as they
had not been delivered up according
to contract the government party
burned the ravl,' or temple. of which
these two chiefs were the heads. Dur
ing the destruction of the place the
various treasures, consisting OF skulls,
alligators' heads, and sacred images OF
wicker work, were carried away and
confiscated. The taking of images
created a great impression among the
villagers, it being, so far as could be
ascertained, the first time on record
when these household gods had ever
been removed from town. Some lit
tie confusion was caused by the too
much-zeal' of the police, who, disap-
pointed of the bloodthirsty fight, for
which they had confidently hoped
flung themselves upon the prisoners
to handcuff them with such superflu-
GUS energy that they had put II pairs
of handouts upon eight men before
they could be stopped, reproved, and
compelled to do their task over again
Such was their disinterested loyalty
that the resident magistrate himself
considered he had only escaped being
handcuffed in the confusion by falling
through the platform OF the temple
which broke in the struggle.
ION the next day His Excellency
Judge Murray, accompanied by Mr.
Garrioch and two officials, and few
police, went to Morohai the alleged
'larder town, TO inquire into the trou
BILE that had brought about the attacl
ON Buchanan, The Morohai people
however denied that they had eyel
been annoyed and declined the admin
isirator's offer 10 have them removed
The government party returned 10 IN
I Nnuuia lNugIaun ~. uauI dan AM