TRIBES AT WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 July 1929, Page 2

TRIBES AT WAR

TN THE NEW.HEBRIDES.

SYDNEY, July 13.

The latest reports from Vila, in the New Hebrides, concerning the volcanic disturbance on the islapd of Ambrym, are to the effect that the bush natives in the interior of Ambrym are engaged in inter-tribal warfare. It is stated

that some tribes have accused others of being responsible for the volcanic disturbance.

The first reports of a disastrous eruption on Ambyrm, which resulted in the destruction of at least three mission stations, reached Sydney on July 3, five days after the eruption. No deaths were reported. Further news of the disaster was brought to Sydney yesterday by Mr. C. Eedy, copra trader on the island of Tanna, in the New Hebrides, who arrived from Vila on the Burns, Philp steamer Marsina.

“I was at Vila, 90 miles away from Ambrym, when that island blew up,” stated Mr. Eedy. “The only indication at Vila that anything had happened was a slight earthquake. Some days later a responsible person, who was in close touch with affairs at Ambrym, told me that the eruption had been followed by inter-tribal strife, bush natives going to th,e extent of using firearms. It was not known then whether the fighting had resulted in any deaths.”

Mr. Eedy, who is well acquainted with the habits of the natives of the New Hebrides, said the natives concerned in the strife were heathens. They were exceedingly superstitious, and in this case were apparently so much disturbed by the eruption that they placed the blame for it on other tribes. No Christian natives were concerned in the strife.

“Although few details of the eruption had reached Vila when I left there, there was sufficient news to indicate that the eruption was very serious,” added Mr. Eedy. “As reported in Sydney, at least three mission stations were destroyed. Fortunately, the Burns, Philp steamer Malinoa was near Ambyrm at the time, and transported a large number of natives to nearby islands. Mission launches also conveyed large numbers away.” Captain G. E. Williams, of the Marsina, stated that his vessel passed within 40 miles of Anibrym on the night of July 6, over a week after the first disturbance. No glow being visible indicated that all was then quiet. News of a violent hurricane, which created havoc on the' island of Tanna, and on other islands in the south of the New Hebrides, was also brought to Sydney by Mr. Eedy. “When I returned to Tanna in April, after a visit to England, I found that my house had suffered great damage from a hurricane that had visited the island a few weeks before,” Mr. Eedy said. “Native villages ana gardens were destroyed, and a mission church on an adjacent island was blown right away.” bj ! Ct of , Mr - Eedy’s visit to house 7 1S tO Durcllase timber for a new