Ate at Cannibals’ Banquet

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1929, Page 9

Ate at Cannibals’ Banquet

White Man Who Rules Savage Tribe in New Hebrides

NATUREL. white chief of the fiercest cannibal tribe in the New Hebrides, reached Sydney the other day by the French steamer St Vincent de Paul, to take charge nf his new trading schooner, Lerlita, lying in a shipbuilder’s yards at Berry’s Bay. Throughout the New Hebrides, the natives know Naturel as the great white chief of the Bignambas tribe, whose headquarters are situated in the island of Malicolo. Among the white population he is regarded as a romantic figure, having been planter, re-, cruiter of native labour, and trader in the New Hebrides for 28 years.

The story of how he became chief of the Bignambas, the most warlike cannibals in the islands, is well known to the older inhabitants of the New Hebrides.

As a young man Naturel gained a reputation for fearlessness among the natives, and about 11 years ago the 1 chiefs of the Bignambas, wishing to

strengthen themselves against neighbouring tribes, with whom they are constantly at war, even to this day, invited this daring French trader to come to their island, which up to this time had seldom been visited by the whites. Feast—or Death Naturel accepted the invitation, and sailed in his schooner to the island, which he crossed alone, and was welcomed by the Bignambas. However, he got more than he had bargained for. He was told that he had been chosen as chief, and he was then forced to be present at a cannibal orgy, after seeing the native victims for ,the feast slain and cooked. It was either feast or death, and Naturel chose the feast.

Naturel was then allowed sole right to trade on the island of Malicolo, where he now lives.

The crew, which will arrive in Sydney shortly to take the Lerlita back to Malicolo, consists of natives of Naturel’s own cannibal tribe.