THE RECENT TRIBAL WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 82, 4 October 1904, Page 5

THE RECENT TRIBAL WAR.

HOW THE TROUBLE ORIGINATED. A TRIVIAL MISUNDERSTANDING. [press association.] (Received October 4, 9.38 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. According to a letter written by Captain Gasp^rd, a resident in the New Hebrides, to tho journal La France Austrolie, the recent tribal war between the coastal bush tribes originated through a very small misunderstanding. Some natives near the Presbyterian Mission station organised a feast, and invited the bush tribes to attend. The latter discovered to their dismay a few days later that the yams hsd been cooked m a utensil formerly used in roasting a pig. They regarded this as an outrage and took revenge for the insult. What eventually took place is not definitely known, but Captain Gaspard says t-ne natives report that Rev. Mackenzie, Principal of the Mission, upon learning of the murders, summoned the warriors of the bush tribe to appear before him, and assured them that they need not fear harm. On the other hand, it is said the bushmen were given to understand that if they failed to obey the summons, information respecting the murders would be furnished to the British authorities, and the result would be the visit of a warship. The bush tribes, it is stated, were alarmed at the threatened visit of the warship, and decided to approach the Rev Mr. Mackenzie. According to uncorroborated reports, some natives told Captain Gaspdrd that they were required on arrival at ths door of the mission house to lay down their firearms and other warlike weapons. It is further alleged by the natives that no sooner had the warriors of the bush entered on the verandah than they were attacked with clubs and tomahawks by some of the natives at the Mission, and thirteen bushmen were slaughtered. • This is an ex parte statement by the blacks who -were concerned in the first murders.