THE LABOUR TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4255, 16 January 1884, Page 2

THE LABOUR TRADE.

Fighting at the Giioert Group.

By arrival of the schooner Kate McGregor we learn of serious disturbances which have recently taken place in the Gilbert Group. A vessel called the Julia, belonging to Honolulu, landed between twenty and thirty returned labourers on the Island

of Xanouti. These natives belonged to Apiang and Tarawa, in the same group, but the people of which were at constant warfare witli the inhabitants of Nanouti. The result was that the returned labourers, who were armed with Winchester repeaters, commenced a series of outrages upon the natives of the i.-land, whose only weapons were clubs and spears. The first aetio'n of the unwelcome visitors was the ravishing of ten young girls, while two old men who expostulated with them were brutally shot. A regular light then ensued between the two parties, and women anil children belonging to the island took tv the water in canoes rather than face the foes. The Apiang and Tarawa natives being possessed of firearms, secured a spaedy victory, after having killed about twenty ami wounded many more of the Xanoutis. Those who escaped succeeded ir. reaching Apamama, a short distance oil', where they related to Tembinoka, their king, what terrible bloodshed bad taken place, and what trials they had endured. The king immediately chartered a vessel and went with her to Xanouti. A message was sent ashore to the effect that he did not come to make war, but to succour his people and disarm the murderers. Shortly afterwards, however, three boats belonging to the vessel, while going ashore, were tired at, and two occupants wore killed and one wounded. The crews then landed, and fight ensued. Several were killed on each side, and several prisoners were taken on board of the vessel and conveyed to Apamama. The whole trouble is said to have been caused by the master of the Julia putting these returned labourers on other than their own islands, which neglect and carelessness generally leads to bloodshed.