CANNIBALISM IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 16 May 1881, Page 2

CANNIBALISM IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

» A correspondent of the Sydney Tele* graph, who is making a tour of the South Sea Islands, writes :— One of the piinci« pal sights worth seeing at Etc Etc is the new chief's or ' tamboo ' house. It has been nearly two years building, and is not yet finished. It is about 80 feet long, nearly 30 feet broad, and the roof is kept in position by 21 posts. All of these are carved in forms that are more grotesque than handsome. The greater number of them have the upper portion cut with the hideous representation of a

man, generally in a sitting posture, and with the exception tbat the carving if much ruder, they are somewhat similar to those seen in some of the East Indian temples. In tbe front of one end is a veryelaborate carving representing two white men shooting at pigeons, which roost on the top, held there by the upright formi of two natives. These figures are about six inches long, and the whole is about 3 feet. The inside of the house is painted very neatly in red, black and white, in various patterns. At the time of my visit the only life visible in the 'vast interior' was a ' pussy, 'or cat, of rather diminutive size, When this house is completed there will be a large feast, and whether they will go back to their canni* bal customs or not is doubtful. The feast in connection with the opening of the • tamboo ' house is one of their most sacred customs, and is looked upon as a special occasion all through the group. At the west, even where they are not generally cannibals, human flesh is eaten when the 'tamboo' house is declared finished,, and the ceremony is a pro* foundly interesting one. Among the Western islanders the victim is always a boy and is not on frequently taken from among those who assisted in the erection of the house. Every stitch he puts m tbe thatch, every rafter he hands up for placing in position, every help he yieldsshortens his life, and he probably continues in this way, although perhaps un* conscious of his fate, till within an hour of bis murder. At other times a boy if stolen or bought from a neighbouring tribe, and be is kept and fattened like a pig. As soon as tbe moment nears, the whole of the inhabitants of tbe village surround the bouse and form in process sion. The victim is mounted in a sitting posture upon the shoulders of a man, ancl another walking behind him with a bam« boo knife sharpened to an edge like » razor. Following come all the mcD, women, and children, and in this way they walk round the house three times. As the victim is brought opposite tbe door for the third time, his head is thrown back, and the razDr is drawn across bis outstretched throat. At the same moment be is dropped upon a flit stone, which is the ' altar,' in front of tbe door, and tbe blood as it flows is greedily saved. Tbe executioner, as soon as the deed is done, throws tbe knife in the air, and be who catches it is considered to be rewarded with fortune during the ensuing year.