THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS LABOUR TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3353, 26 April 1881, Page 3

THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS LABOUR TRAFFIC.

BamON de Miklouho-Maclay has addressed the following letter to Commodore Wilson:— " Melbourne, April B,IBSI

'i s srj —The constant recurrences in the daily papers of paragraphs relative to the murders and massacres in the South Sea Islands, aud the review of my own cxperieuce of ssven years of life spent amongst the aboriginals of dill'erent islands in the Pacilic, impel me to express my opinion on this matter, and to direct attention to some special points connected therewith. " That the exportation of slaves (for it is only right to give the transaction its proper name) to New Culedonia, Fiji, Samoa, Queensland, and other countries, by kidnapping and carrying away the natives under cover of false statements nud lying promises, still goes on to a very large extent I oiu prepared to aver aud support by facts. The conduct of many whites towards the aboriginals of the South Sea Islands is in no way justifiable, and of the truth of this I hitve many instances at ray command, and I am not surprised that reprisals ou the part of the natives take place. Impartial observation of the South Sea [slauders teaches that tliey aro assuredly not more cruol and moro rovengeful than tlio whites (skij.pcrs and trailer;-) -who vi-it them, and that they know how to value and understand just and equitable treatment. Cases occur in which the natives kill the whites, simply for the sake of killing, but such deplorable abnormalities are not coullued (o the blicks alone ; besides the apparent wanton character of jthe massacres depends not unfrsquently simply ou the dilliculty of ascertainiug the causes and dctatl ot ihe trailsaatiou. Ignorauce of the customs aud language of the blacks makes it uifllcult for the whites to mul out tlic rights of the matter.

It is certain that, so long as such institutions as kidnapping, slado I rave, and slavery arc suffered, or eveu sanctioned by tho Government (under the name of free labour trade), aud shameless spoliation which goes by tho name of 'trading,' coi:tidues iv the islands, these results—the massacres—will constantly occur. "The lent that the blacks have a right tc expect from the civilised races is, ucitlicr pity nor sympathy, but justice, and this I feel confident cau be given them; but it is to be hoped that the Imperial Government will never permit skippers and traders taking the law into their own hands, and, under the pretence of doing justice, further their own personal iutercsts and trading schemes. " It would be desirable if an international understanding upon this subject could be speedily brought about, for the criminal actions of skippers not sailing under the British Hag are at present removed from the jurisdiction of the High Commissioners of the Western Pacific and notico of our Udtish men-of-war.

" 1 am aware that I |am stating nothing new, but, as my position iv the South Seas (luring nearly 11 years was that of an impartial observer, ever anxious to find out the truth, and see tilings in their proper light without prejudice to race, profession, or trade. I pen these remarks as a duty towards mankind, and add that I shall feel it a great hen >•>>• to pi <?- >uy knowledge of the state of affairs in tho South Sea Islands at your disposal.—l have, &a, >1" N.—DE MIKLOU'IO-MACLA.Y. "To the Commodore of tlje AustraJiau Naval Station, &c..] &c."