MALEKULA ISLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 7

MALEKULA ISLAND.

A CANNIBALISTIC TRIBE. , A MISSIONER’S NARRATIVE. (Special to Daily Tikes.) AUCKLAND, August 11. Cannibalism is still in rogue amongst Slg Nambus, a tribe on Malekula Island, fet the New Hebrides group. This fact is vouched for by two Seventh Day Adventist missioners who are through, passengers by the Aorangi on their way to Sydney. The Big Nambns are located in the bnsh in the centre of the island, where they carry on unceasing intertribal warfare. The bow and arrow and spear have been relegated to the playground, and these Wild men fight with modem firearms, which, although contraband, are obtained, by means of barter from unscrupulous traders. “ On one occasion when I visited the Nambns tribe,” stated Pastor A. 6. Stewart, vice-president of the Australasian Union Conference of Seventh Day Adventists in charge of the South Sea Island mission work, “ 1 found the paramount chief very embarrassed. Our mis--sioners 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 missioners around that day. The reason was that a cannibal feast, was In preparation. A body had teen brought in, and this had been cut'.up and wrapped in leaves, and the 'oven was being heated for roasting. . Onr guide said that members of the tribe were out in search of more bodies after a fight that had taken ■place, and. visitors stood, a chance of being waylaid.” ' Mr Stewart went on to describe the customs of .he tribe. The bodies are invariably wrapped in green leaves, che oven being a hole ip the ground in which a fire is-lighted. Stones ate put in, and whenithese become hot the "joints” are placed on top of the stones and the oven sealed up vitb earth. In addition to hundreds of natives who have been cooked and eaten over the years, a number of Europeans have had the same fate. They have either been captured on “recruit-. ing ” expeditions or clubbed when exploring. The: only white man apart from the . missioners who has visited the Big Nambns is a Frenchman, Dr de Mar.juett. “1 took him in six weeks ago,” said* Captain J. C. Radley, who -has -charge of one of che mission schooners. “We went into the heart of the island and met the paramount chief, Nisi, the bead of the Nambns people. -This wild-tribe has withstood the encroachment ,of 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 I am attached are' never molested. I have never been at a human feast myself, but on the last trip Tasked some of the Nainbns about their cannibalistic customs, and they told me frankly that they eat their captives. Thby are constantly fighting amongst themselves in the interior just as they: used to f -do on the coast, and those jwho fall are roasted. ▲ fiendish dance ..is held bn these occasions, and the victims are offered up, as a sacrifice to the spirits.”