Acts of Cannibalism.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 7, 9 July 1894, Page 2

Acts of Cannibalism.

THE NATIVES PUNISHED. [Per Press Association.] Auckland, This Day. News from Fiji by the steamer Ovalau, contains particulars of a rather serious native: disturbance. Governor Ihurstou and an armed force proceeded to the scene of the revolt and settled affairs in a very short timo. It was fonnd, however, the rioters had murdered several natives, aud committed acts of cannibalism, besides making sacrifices to their gods. Later. The native town where the disturbance took jplace is situated on the Drekeli river, Vanua Devu Island. As the Government force marched in they surprised a party of natives engaged in their ceremonial. Next day the force advanced on the town where the hostile Fijian s were entrenched. The natives refusing to surrender, the force attacked, using their rifles, and soon carried the place after a sharp fight. The Government force had four wounded, and seven rebels were killed. The rest of the insurgent garrison escaped to the mountains. Two mon were killed by leaping from a. precipice. The force found the bodies of the two men murdered on the sth ultimo., partly dismembered, portions of the body haying been eaten. - It hag b,P£R ascertained that these acts of pajmibj#ij3m ' had : "raefl " £&<sss*s# *P order to propitiate |he hea&ep dieties. Two of their priests had stirred up tlip natives to the revolt. Governor Thurs; ton has decided to concentrate the dis? accepted natives inso three qr four large towns; .