AMONG CANNIBALS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10490, 15 October 1926, Page 3

AMONG CANNIBALS

WHITE WOMAN IN PERIL

SOUTH SEA ADVENTURE

SYDNEY, Sept. 26. A stirring story of an adventure among cannibals was told by Captain. CoUrquenx, master of the wellknown French/ trader St. Josepii, which arrived from Noumea. Lapt. Courqucux. who before join-, ing the St. Joseph on tin's trip, had command of an island trader St Michael, was engaged in recruiting native labour in the New Hebrides, for ship’s crews and plantations. His young wile was travelling v.it'n him. IFOASTED HODJFS. During a trip a few months ago, Captain Courquenx called in at Malien !a, a remote island in thg group. Not knowing that the natives were in an ugly mood, for in his previous dealings with them he had had no trouble, he consented to his wife going ashore with him. I'll ere was a crowd cl natives on the beach, and as the boat reached the shore they advanced .menacingly. Most of them were armed with oldfashioned rifles, and Capt. Courquenx was horrified fo see one cl Hie natives take deliberate aim at 51 a dame Courqueux. There was a dash by a friendly Kanaka, a scuffle and the shot went high. No time was lost in pushing the boat off, and Madame . Gonrqueux v. as taken ba r k' to the shin. Capt. Courquenx and }iis officers on their return to the island found that the natives, were in the midst of a cannibalistic orgy. Three bodies had already been eaten, and the feast v. as not yet over. Other bodies strung on bamboo stakes, were ready for roastMaiicola V natives are probably, the most uncivilised in the,New Hebrides.