CANNIBALISM IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12550, 18 April 1904, Page 6

CANNIBALISM IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

MAN-EATING AT ADMIRALTY

ISLANDS.

FIVE MURDERS COMMITTED.

His Imperial German' Majesty's ship Condor, which returned to Sydney on Tuesday last, after an extensive cruise among the islands of the South Seas, brought news of further acts of cannibalism in the Admiralty Islands, situated to the north of German New Guinea. When the Condor reached Herbert-shoe, in New Britain, the seat of government in the German Archipelago, it was reported that five murders had been committed by the natives on the south-east coast of the Admiralty Island, and the warship at once left for the scene to investigate the matter and to punish the offenders. , *" /,

From what could be gathered it appears that a Chinaman and four black boys were suddenly attacked by a tribe of natives, and were killed with spears and clubs. The bodies of the unfortunate men were then collected, and a huge fire was kindled, round which the tribe of natives gathered to witness them roasting. The natives, who are, perhaps, the most barbarous of any of the inhabitants of the South Seas, danced round the fire making hideous noises and rejoicing in the feast in which they were about to take part. Eventually, when the bodies of the five men had been cooked, the natives, numbering some hundreds, were sealed in a circle and greedily devoured what had been prepared for them.

An expedition well armed was sent ashore from the Condor, and from inquiries made among the natives, the ringleaders were picked out and placed under arrest. The bones of the five murdered men were found and were interred. - The prisoners were conducted on board the warship, and were kept under strict surveillance. As soon as the members of the expedition had returned to the Condor, the warship opened lire on the village. The bombardment, however, was not continued long, and there was probably little, if any, loss of life. As boon as the first shell exploded on shore the natives fled to the hills, and the village was absolutely deserted. Indeed, some hundreds of the natives, upon noticing the warship approaching their coast, realised the object of her visit, and did not wait for the landing of the expeditionary force. The shells fired by the Condor set fire to the village, which was practically destroyed. It lias always been known that the inhabitants of the Admiralty Islands are cannibals, and many murders of whites have taken place there. The prisoners were conveyed by the Condor to Herbercshoe, where they were handed over to the Government authorities to be tried and dealt with. In all probability the men have long since been shot or otherwise executed.

The Admiralty Group consists of one large island, with numerous smaller ones arouud it. The inhabitants are not very black. Their physiognomy is agreeable, and differs but little from that of Europeans. The men wear a shell, and some wear a cloth around the loins, but with these exceptions they are entirely naked. The women only have a garment round the waist. Their hair is curly, and of a black colour. They sometimes redden it with ochre mixed with oil. Some parts of the body, particularly the face, are also thus painted. During the voyage of H.M.s. Challenger in the year 1875, the natives were civil and well disposed. They offered no objection to landing or exploring any parts of the islands, although at first they showed some antipathy to the men visiting their villages.