TRIBAL WARFARE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 30

TRIBAL WARFARE

WHITE MEN LOOK ON IN NEW HEBRIDES CANNIBALS IN BATTLE To be a spectator at a fight between tribes of the Big Nambas, the most primitive and warlike people of the New Hebrides, was the thrilling experience of Mr. Donald Nicholson, of the Seventh Day Adventists Mission, who, with his wife, lived for six years on Malekula Island. The couple arrived n Sydney by the La Perouse recently on furlough. Mr. Nicholson said that the natives were armed with rifles—relics of the “blackbirding” days. Three months ago lie was conducting a party of eight American scientists through Malekula in search of specimens for the Chicago Museum. Approaching a village the sound of rifle fire was heard, and bullets whizzed overhead, giving the impression that the natives were firing at the white men. Soon, however, some women of the village came out, and told the strangers that their meu were fighting another tribe, and that it would be well to keep out of the way of stray bullets. It was learned that the women of the Big Nanibas were allowed to pass to and fro as messengers between the warring tribes. Mr. Nicholson said that the Big Nambas had kept clear of civilisation, and at first resented the presence of the missionaries. Two years ago there was a fight between two tribes, one of which had accepted the missionaries, and a plan to kill the chief missionary was narrowly frustrated. Today, however, the people realised that the educational and medical branches of mission work were for their physical well-being, and an invitation had been received from the chiefs, who had absolute power over the people, asking the missionaries to settle among them and teach them industrial craft, and how to live healthily. The Big Nambas are a very moral people, though the women have no rights at all, and are bought as wives for about 20 pigs. Adultery is punished by death. The people are cannibals. who not only eat- their enemies but also sacrifice them in religious I rites.