NEW CALEDONIA. FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE NATIVES. GREAT DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES. (TRANSLATED FOR THE "DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS.")

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2608, 27 November 1865, Page 5

NEW CALEDONIA. FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE NATIVES. GREAT DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES. (TRANSLATED FOR THE "DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS.")

By the last mail from Sydney wo were placed in receipt of a file of the New Caledonia Moniieiir up to the 29th October inclusive. The only news of interest to our readers is contained in the report of MM. Camus And BillCs relative to the further proceedings of the Gafcope expedition in pursuit of the cannibil murderers of the settler Taillard, and ttie crew* of the 'Seoret/and 'Queen of the Isles.' We regret that we have not space to give at full length the official, vet interesting reports which thoie officers forwarded to the Governor of New Caledonia, detailing the operations of the forces under their reipective commands ; we are co mpelled therefore to confine ourselves to giving a short condensation. Captain Camus declares in the conclusion of his report that iv his attack on Pamal6— the residence of Poindi Patchili, murderer of thi settler Taillard — he had carried out his in•truotions by burning and destroying the villages, and as completely as possible destroying the crops. The effect of their arms had also been strikingly felt by thirty or thirty-five Kanacks having been killed or mortally wounded ; whilst such had been the persistency and rigour of the pursuit after the cannibals, that many corpses had been met with before the natives had had tune to collect and hide them from the sight of the French — a duty which they strictly observed in every possible instance. The troops and native allies were animated with the greatest riralry iv courageous acts, and the latter were found of great assistance in destroying and firing the plantations. The only persou wounded on the side of the French was, Corporal Spitz, by a ball from the enemy. Captain Lille's, commanding the expedition into the interior, furnishes mast interesting details of the innumerable difficulties met with during the progress of the expeditionary force from settlement to settlement, and the opposition offered by the aboiigines. In the conflagration of the village of Poma, nineteen Kauacks of both sexes became a prey to the flames, and during the retirement of the troops to the camping ground, Dr. Cailcoup and five soldicis were ■wounded by the heavy stones which the natives hurled from the neighbouring cliffs. Upon, arrival at the village of Poinane, on the 10th October, a message was despatched to the rebel chief, Poheu, for the purpose of intimating that a parley was desired. Captaiu Billus then addiessed the natives iv the following teims: — "The French have many time* surprised the men of Gale and of PamalG, who have already been exposed to numerous losses, and many have forfeited their lives for their cannibal propensities, Satisfied with the reprisals which have been exercised, the French again come, not to m»ke *r»r, but to offer peace to Gonduu and to Poindi Patchili. They promise to save the life of those two chiefs if they give themselves up, that they may he conducted to the great chief of the whites, who alone is empowered to receive their submission. Their immediate surrender is the only obligatory condition for the obtaining of peace.' 1 After some tergiversations the Kanacks replied, " Gondou and Poiudi Patchili fear tbat they will be killed." Captain Billes replied that " they had no cause for fear ; that the French never lied." A short delay again ensued, the Kauacks consulting amongst themselves, when they •aid, "Come and plant two flags in our village, and our two chiefs will place themselves under the protection of those emblems. "' The two colours having been hoisted at the place indicated, Captaiu BillG, *aid, "If the two chiefs do not come to the camp -it Poihe before sundown hostilities will be recommenced, the villages will be reduced to cinders, and the plantations swept away." The troops then returned to camp. In the evening the natives came towards the camp, apparently with the intention of surrendering ; but after some hesitation they retiied without attempting to communicate with Captiiin Bi11(m. On the succeeding day the troops surrounded the settlement, the movements of the forces being attentively watched by the natives, who crowded the neighbouring heights. A n intimation was given to them that there was yet time for them to surrender ; but upon their negative response being received, the bugle sounded the signal for the village to be set on fire, and the engagement commenced. The neighboming villages of Pehcina and Poindeha were also destioyed by fire, and chase wat given to the inhabitants. The two chiefs Gondou and Poindi Patchili were noticed amongst the fugitives, and the former wai wounded by a ball from the rifle of a soldier named Giraud, but he succeeded in escaping, although leaving behind traces of blood. In the attack and destruction of Tionbalap&tou Corporal Spitz was struck on tbe thigh by a ball. The several settlements between Tionbalapfttou and P6ma were subsequently attacked and all the habitation* burned ; also the hamlet* of Tiounegape, Toutapa, and Poiudefa ; aud all the plantations laid even with the ground. All the villages owning Gondou us chief weie thus destroyed, his numerous cultivations laid waste, and more than thirty of his tribe slain ; the expedition having been engaged iv the work of destruction seven days. The Governor has been making a tour round the various settlements in the colony, having left Port de France in the 'Fulton' on the 11th October, and returned on the 25th. Whilst the 'Fulton' was at Ounda the chief Tingghi, followed by five or six principal men of his tribe, anived on board and made hit submission to tbe Governor, promising also to obey the orders of the Commandant of tbe Northwest district. He was forbidden to give protection or succour to the cannibals of Pouanloltche, Paquiepe, and Pouangug. At Gom&ne two other natives made their submission, alto bringing on board with them two infants which had been found in the buib, but belonged to the rebel settlement of Paquiepe. The children were to be placed in the natitre schools. At Pouebo many settler* had taken up their residence. Mr. Henry, an Englishman, was authorised to search for sandal wood in the north part of New Caledonia, and has definitely ■ettled at the spot. Hi* representative, Mr. Percy, is Mt>bli«hed at about nine kilometre* from the camp Oubatohe, at a point where a good anchorage i* found. Already provisions, materials, two horses, and 23 immigrants from the New Hebrides, have debarked there ; a workshop has been conctructed, and a residence for the workmen if going up. At Hienguene the coffee trees planted iv 1863, by Mr. Guillain, are commencing to yield fruit, and the •eed* will be immediately returned to the earth, with the view of further propagating the culture of this tree in the colony.