Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-03
Where White
NJ Are Kind To
Cdnniba|S

reports that Colonial British and French govern
ments have joined with missionaries traders to
wipe cannbaism territores-with kindness
The old methods of furnishing cannba chefains guilty
natives with prison sentences replaced
humane methods of education.
Even the lowest type of human responds kindness
whereas punishment often makes him worse. the island
authorities have found Already. several hundred New
Hebrdes sayages some of whom cannihas recently
as year ago. have entirely given up their traditional
eating habits after they became convinced that last
white did not seek TO harm them.
The kindness campaign is being carried principally
Maleka the big hour shaped group
which lies just south of the Equator the northeast side
Of Australia
Malekua widest of the islands has the nerces cann
No white man ever penetrated into the deep Jungle
and until recently, there
about 10000 the island all hidden in the bush
Law and order has been maintained only in few villages
along the coast by go 20 native police boys who
backed up by an occasional visit of British French
territorial gunboat-
The authorities long have been confronted with the
cannibal problem but because the ownership of the New
Hebrdes has been disputed between England and France
for years has done much about it. Meanwhile the
islands remain under the joint administration OF both
powers but since the present started things have been
pretty much at sandstill.
The killers of Malelula, If and when caught the
commission of their crimes captured and thrown into
penal barracks but otherwise the situation ignored
In late years however the savages who practice
headhunting became a real when they began 10
acquire firearms principally rifles traded 10 them along the
loads by INSCRIPTIONS South
The Of the traded them the natives Of the
interior and then there was the devil 10 pay.
With these efficient weapons of the white head
hunting soon increased so did cannbasm The authorities
decided something be done about Native
deputies and viganes organized and given official
They went into the interior and brought back
a hundred killers. These given long
the penal barracks but cannhalisn still persisted
and when these aborgnes released they just went
back their old ways, except that they killed and ate
victims in secret where before they had done it
openly. So things were no better.
After several experiments all ending fail
ure, the authorities finally took hint from Father Prin
French priest of the Island of Vac who
had liVpdf
the best way TO win any human being is with
kindness He told the authorities this for years but they
paid attention TO him. Father Pn personally converted
II killers cannibalism example. At last the
realized that the old missionary knew what
he was talking about. those in charge together
with cooperative traders and missionaries breaking
the cannibals of their vicious habits.
Headquarters OF the campaign the island Of vao
which within easy padding distance of wild Malekula
Vac, little groups set out with native paddlers
carrying loads OF tobacco clay pipes timed beef
Calico sugar salt biscuits and tea Upon arrival at the
three villages on the northwest side Maetua these
goods up trading posts and sent in
TO the interior 10 spread word the coming.
savages flock 10 the coast to trade the author
ties and traders that they desire TO pene
into the interior with their goods.
Leaders chosen from among the natives who know
the trails best and the trading parties set out aoot After
trading post established The savages
come to buy and sell and the white men always treat mem
kindly making them presents Of and nose rings
hand rrors. mechanical toys (Which fascinate them).
pieces of red calico, clay pipes and tobacco
Though suspicious long time, the cannioas evenu
ally that the white men mean them no harm
so they become friendly.
Each month or two the trading post moves a little
farther inland and a missionary school takes its place
Here the cannbas school to hear monograph
look at motion pictures Slowly but steadily
they learn to speak pdgn English and ey become more
and more interested the white mans ways
From the education OF the natives Is COM
paratvey easy Headhuntng and its attendant canniba
ism is shown to evil practice by simply quoting in
pidgin English adapted scrptura phrases as Big
Fea God He say love little fela brother and Big Fea
God He say little fela brother not gooo TOT CHOW
Treated with kindness and followed by edu
eaHHhas give their Old practces ana
become more interested in the ways OF CIVILIZATION