FIJI SLAVE TRADE-HOW IT IS KEPT UP.

Evening Star, Issue 3047, 23 November 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

FIJI SLAVE TRADE-HOW IT IS KEPT UP.

{From the New Zealand Herald.) Interpreters are trained to instruct the captured “niggers,” that by-and-by they will be subjected to the scrutiny of aa official in Levuka, who, upon examining them, will expect to see each prominently hold up “ three lingers,” which will be to him a sufficient assurance that they are desirous of remaining in Fiji to work upon plantations for three years. No greater absurdity was ever perpetrated ; nevertheless, its adoption by the Fiji Government is the means whereby piratical vessels hoisting the Fiji flag pursue their nefarious man-catching, woman-catch-ing. boy and girl catching, amid human butchery and terror and confusion. And this pursuit is found to be highly remunerative, for after an absence of about three months from Levuka, a vessel of not one hundred tons returns into port with upwards of one hundred slaves, and disposes of such a human cargo for about LI4OO. Good slaves, fine healthy Polynesians, strong men, now 4 change bands at LIS a head, whilst attractive young girls, varying in ages from 15 to 20, are in ereat demand upon the plantations of bachelors, and fetch much higher rates. On September 12, the Nukulau, schooner, hoisting the Fiji flag, one of the

most notorious slavers in the Pacific, arrived in Levuku harbor with 116 Polynesians. These Were lated by 1 hakombau’s Minister for Native Affairs and bis eollcaguthe Native Commissioner, as 10!) ad nil a. The exorbitant fees instituted by the Fiji Government were paid to the Native Minister for that number, in consideration whereof he visited the vessel in question and duly “passed’’ the “labor’ - on Saturday, Sept. 14. Wo were eye-witnesses of some curious incidents which transpired during the piveesr of ‘ ’ passing.” We have previously spoken of the “three-finger” artifice ; and as tho hour for “passing” the natives had been for some time previously known, the Polynesian interpreters on board were busy during the early part of the day engaged in the work of preparation for the evening’s inspection. They were actively employed in giving the : r victims one last reheavsal i n board the Nnkulau, in order to insure a perfect success at the approaching “ passing, ” and this they admirably achieved, for upon the arrival of Messrs Swanston and Wilkinson, the Native Minuter and his Commissioner, the natives were drawn up on the deck in extended lines, after the fashion of irregular troops. Their bare shoulders, however, narrow strips of calico around their loins, and dark skins, naked above and below, contrast'd strangely with decently-clad Europeans. What struck UB forcibly at this juncture was the eagerness with which the Polynesians held up one band, and prominently displayed “three fingers. In order to maintain appearances, the Fijian Government officials, assuming an air of supreme authority, passed along the lines, and recognising the very significant “three fingers” with such general unity—readily evoked upon the approach of these Fijian public functionaries— they at once gave their Governmental sanction for the Polynesians under inspection to be retained in servitude for three yea?a. Well, we have been in many countries, but we never witnessed in the whole course of our mundane oxperiences such a palpable sham as this exhibition exposed to our disgusted sensibilities. This, however, was no simple question relative to the ordinary duties of social life of unimportance, but a matter of the grave t import, for, under colour of a Government, these one hundred and sixteen human beings are consigned to work upon plantations .in Fiji, without having the slightest knowledge of the contract they are thus forced to enter upon, Atid all the machinery, all the wirepulling which keeps this odious system of bondage in an enlarging state of iniquitous progression, is controlled, is organised and cherished with fondness by the Fiji Government. With regard to the foregoing human cargo of the Nukulau, the master, on that voyage, was rone other than Findlay McLiver, y(jio, upon his arrival in Levuka harbour, was arrested, in obedience to instructions emanating from Her Majesty’s Consul, upon charges of murder and kidnapping Polynesians. A large number of the imported aboriginal native? now in Fiji, Who have gained a meagre knowledge of the English language, are amply conversant with the manifold outrages committed by McLiver, as master of that piratical vessel. Their statements are in singular harmony, and they unite in observing that “ McLiver very bad,” “he too much shoot,” “he had fellow,” “too much kill,” “he steal plenty of native,” “Nukulau bad ship,” “always steal men.” The foregoing facts arc too well known among the public in Fiji, and in the face of such an absolute truism,” Thakombau’s officials cordially joiu in accepting the “ three fingers ” training as sufficient evidence of the legitimate mode of procuring Polynesians, lu commencing the “three fingers” education, as soon as the Polynesians are captured rewards are held out to them, for the purpose of securing their quick adhesion to the new' practice, such rewards, however, only assuming the form of an additional biscuit or so to their daily regimen of restricted food. And Mr Woods, the Premier of Fiji, in speaking at the meeting of the Australian Wesleyan Missionary Society in Sydney, on September 11th, is reported to have said of the Fijian •lave traffic that “ it is a system which the planters, as a body, utterly detest, and a nuisance which the Government will strain •very nerve to destroy.” A little consideration, however, of some fa its which arise in the doings of the Fijian Government, of which Mr Woods is the eloquent mouthpiece, ■will incontestably prove the utter untruthfulness of such an unblushing falsehood. I ■will point out what the Fijian Minister for Native Affairs did with the kidnapped Polynesians who were brought t® Levuka in the Carl in April last. The information recently published in the Sydney newspapers of the atrocities committed on board that vessel—the,murdering and slaying in cold blood of upwards of seventy Polynesians - has aroused a cry of anguish and terror throughout Great Britain, In his official capacity, Thakombau’a Minister for Native Affairs in April last duly “passed ” all the kidnapped Polynesians on board that vessel, notwithstanding (that he had previously received a written notice frsm Her Majesty’s Consul that in consequence of the irregularities that had transpired, an investigation must be held into a'l the circumstances. Having accomplished the feat of “passing” a large cargo of kidnapped Polynesians, this chameleon qualification Minister converts himself into “ a slave dealer,” and commences to dispose of the very stolen examples of human flesh and blood in question, and receives payment for the same. Not satisfied with his own powers as Thakumbau’s Minister for Native Affairs, ho invokes the aid of the American commercial agent in Levuka, through whoso agency ton of the Polynesians are removed from a British vessel, and sold to an American planter. That planter still retains possession of bis slaves so purchased, and the violation of international relations thus incurred will surely be made the subject of a just complaint from the Briti-h Government to that of America, at Washington. Thakombau’s Minister for Native Affairs declared at the time that these incidents occurred that he didn’t .care for any British Consul; that having “passed the labor,” ho should soil them, and pocket the proceeds. And only last month the Planet, cutter, laden ■with “labor,” landed them at Loma I.oma, and sold the whole human cargo into slavery after the master (Newman) had “passed” them before two Fijiau magistrates The magistrates who thus facilitated the introduction of Polynesians so readily are themselves planters, and in want of such bqndsmcn to labor upon their own plantations. The Planet hoists the Fiji flag, and the ease with which slavery can be earned on under that banner is glaringly palpable to any impartial ‘observer. The Fijiau magistrates do not enjoy any reputation other than one for venality, corruption, and a concealed desire to obtain “laborat any hazards” ; therefore it is surely reasonable to conclude that the 1

scrutiny with which they will examine imported Polynesians is purely superficial—a complete delusion and a snare, these facta should he widely known, for the demon of slavery has sprung up in the Pacific, and it would be a glaring act of gross inconsistency if the British nation tolerates, under the name of Government in 1) iji, an organisation whereby kidnapping may be perpetrated without check or interference. Common humanity demands the immediate suppression of this blot on the human race, carried on by Avhitc men who, if not now British subjects, were so before they swore allegiance to Thakombau, Moreover, we contend that a practice which, in its pursuit, leads to the frequent commission of murder, piracy, robbery, unrestrained admixture of the sexes amid drunken revels, inducing a train of gigantic evils, should be abolished. It will not l)e suppressed, however, unless Christian philanthropists aid each other, and all by some measure of attention to this wicked trade, exercise their condemnatory influence for the happy purpose of slaying the enmities systematically inflicted upon unsuspecting Polynesians.