NEW HEBRIDES GROUP

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1930, Page 5

NEW HEBRIDES GROUP

CANNIBALISM STILL IN VOGUE. AUCKLAND, Aug. 11. Cannibalism is still in vogue amongst the Big Nambus, a tribe of Malekula Island in the New Hebrdies Group. The fact is vouched 4'or by two Seventh Day Adventist missionaries who are through passengers by the xiorangi on their way to Sydney. The Big Nambus are located in the hush in the centre of the island, where they carry on unceasing inter-tribal warfare. Bow and arrow and spear have been relegated to the playground, and these wild men fight with modern firearms, which although contraband, are obtained by means of barter . from unscrupulous traders. "‘On one occasion, when. I visited the Nambus tribe,” said Pastor A G. Stewart, vice-president of the Australasian Union Conference of Seventh Day Adventists in charge of the South Set* Island mission work “ 1 found the para mount chief very embarrassed. Our missioners are the only white people that the natives will allow in their territory as we have always ministered to their sick. The chief informed our guide on this occasion that he did not want any missionaries around that clay. The reason was that a cannibal ‘feast was in preparation. The body had been brought in and the oven was being heated for roasting. Our guide said that members of the tribe were out oil a search l’o more bodies after a fight that had taken place, and visitors stood a chance of being waylaid.” The only white man apart from the missioners who has visited the Biig Nambus is a Frenchman, Dr. cle Marquett. “I took him in six weeks ago,” said Captain J. 0. Hadley, who lias charge of one of the mission schooners.

“We wont into the heart of the island and met the paramount chief, Nisi, the head of tin* Nambus people. This wild tribe lias withstood the encroachment o Europeans up to the present time. Even the Government officials are afraid to penetrate into the interior unless they have a strong escort, but members Of the mission station to which T. am attached are never molested.”