THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2136, 16 May 1889, Page 2

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

WHOLESALE MASBAOBES.

Jn»elllgoneo jnat to band from the Solomon group of lalands (says a Home paper) shows that » shocking state of nflUlrs was prevailing m some of the island", where massacres were frequent owing to the intomeolne wars. This was particularly the case at Suva, Gaudaleanor »nd San Ghrlstoval. It seemt that the oomt tribes had become annoyed and exasperated with the bush people for the oontfnual petty theft of their pigs and other belongings, whioh they stole and then carried rff to their homes m the buah. An expedition m fore 3 was organised by the coast people, and terrible slaughter was the reault. At one plaoe, thirty men, women and ohildren were massaored m a single village. The onslaught was terrific Cannibalism was rampant, and It ia said that In one case at least, where a number of prisoners were captured, the poor people, after being slain, were roasted, their bodies being afterwards out up, paoked m leaves, and exp >rted to other Islands for distribution. The raids were taking place, it is said, very frequently, and tbe same sad spectacleo were witnessed. Wives and families had been captured In numbers, *nd m oases where tbey were not killed they were sold into slavery by their ojnquerors. This latter was the case particularly with the boys and girls taken. Tho schooner Enterprise, which brought the news of tho shpoklng occurrence, re* portel that the people on some of the ialands were Imploring the captains of vessels to take them from the plaoe, ai they were afraid of being massaored, It was said the natives showed themselves very willing to work, but the raids prj-> vented anything being done to the oountry orops, so that the places were m a very bad sate. Any . amber of laborers oonld be reorulted, an the natives were only too anxbus to leave the islands with theti lives,