THE CANNIBAL OUTBREAK IN FIJI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4888, 21 November 1876, Page 3

THE CANNIBAL OUTBREAK IN FIJI.

If this letter were not already far too long I could give many most I interesting incidents connected with this war. A very few must suffice. One of the towns, Bukutia, taken by Mr, Gordon, had never hitherto been captured in any of the tribal wars. It was regarded as a kind of sacred place by the cannibals. When it was surrounded by ‘ the Government forces the “ Devils” consulted their chief priest as to the meaning of these strange portents. From the top of the rock he announced, in the still evening air, the response of the oracle to his dispirited followers. “My house,” he cried, “is not accustomed to be burned.” His words were heard by friends and foes alike, and scarcely had the echo died away when a great shout arose from the Christians surrounding the rook, “ Wait till to-morrow.” The unexpected response seems to have struck terror alike into priest ' and people, for during the night the town, was evacuated, and the “Devil" Temple] “unaccustomed to be burned,” was duly committed to the flames. One of : the customs is that before proceeding to the seat of war the soldiers selected should _ parade before the chief, and with his face painted in a warlike manner each should commit himeeff to some boast of his prowess. One of the policesoldiers in thus parading before the Governor of Nasova, said quietly as his boast, “ This is but an old musket, but I hear it.” The chiefs harangue their followers before an assault, and as a Fijian is naturally eloquent, these harangues are uncommonly pithy, delivered with great vigor of elocution; they talk along the front of the lines, beseeching, taunting, imploring, breaking out’ into great leaps and bounds, expressive of_ the activity they themselves intend to display, and thus inciting the followers to • imitate their leaders. This may be regarded as an appeal to the old savage elements, for when it is finished a more seemly ceremony is observed. The Christian teacher comes forward, and all the soldiers kneeling down with their faces to the earth, he pours forth a prayer for success in battle. The’teachers are hot slow to shoulder the musket themselves, and some of them had to be reminded after the fight that it was their special duty to show care for the wounded, and to prevent anything like cruelty to the vanquished. Mr. Gordon showed them an example which at first they could scarcely comprehend, and one which certainly had never been shown them before. A poor baby was shot on its mother’s back during the fight, the ball passing across its stomach. The mother threw it down as dead, but it was found a<liv6j and tlic utmost care was taken of it ; and when at length it did die it was buried wrapped in Mr, .Gordon’s mat. The cannibals did not observe similar humane practices. They captured a teacher belonging to Mr. Gordon’s forces. The unfortunate men was rather Abort-sighted, and had walked into the enemy before he was aware. Ho was clubbed, carried off, and eaten. His hones, with the marks of the fire on them, were found when the town was captured three days afterward. And the men who assisted in the capture were themselves cannibals only a few years ago, hut are now as completely well-dis-posed and obedient subjects of her Majesty as if they had been born of Christian parents, and hepimed round with all the traditions of a Christian country. Curiously enough, it has been found that the hills upon which Bukutia and Matamvuta were situated are of marble, so that a new source of wealth has been probably disclosed by the sad necessities of war. —Fiji (July 5) correspondence of the London Daily News.