HAUHAUISM AND CANNIBALISM.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 292, 27 July 1865, Page 1

HAUHAUISM AND CANNIBALISM.

[From the Southern Cross, July 21.]

When our readers peruse the particulars we give to-day of the atrocious conduct of the fanatics now in conflict with the Arawas on the East Coast, they will, we are sure, if they doubt of it before, be convinced that the Government have shamefully neglected their duty, in not endeavouring before now to suppress by force of arms that terrible superstition wflich has now spread throughout the greater portion of the island. The Governor’s proclamation has beeu defied, and his emissaries have been laughed at; and the most ferocious and inhuman phases of Pai Marirism have been developed. Could we expect anything else when the murderers of poor Yolkner have been allowed to go unpunished ; when their crime has to all intents and purposes beeu condoned? The news we publish is so appalling that the conduct ■of the Government appears in a tenfold worse light. Afraid or careless to grapple with the evil themselves, they resign their functions to a body of friendly natives, wholly unable to inflict that summary chastisement ■on the fanatics which justice demands. Tiie results is that the bravery of the Arawas has been unavailing; t hat they have been surrounded by a greatiy superior force under Kereopa ; that five of their number have beeu killed and eaten ; and that they were all in imminent danger of falling a prey to the monsters with whom they have to cope. But it is not Kereopa and his followers alone that are sowing the seeds of fanaticism. We bear that a band of these lawless villains, sixty four in number, had been parading the Thames district and had made a large number of converts ; that a principal chief of the district, who was only a few days ago appointed •a native assessor, had become a firm adherent to the new faith, and that, although the natives had not generally become converts, it was greatly to be feared that the spirit which bad been infused iuto them would soon lead them to give up the profession of Christianity for the doctrines of Te Ua. This fact is a very instructive commentary upon the so-called peace negotiations of Thompson. We were told that his followers were tired of war, and that they had left Matamata on a gum-dig-ging expedition in the Thames. The gum we were told was to be sold to raise money for the great peace feast to the Europeans, and at which the Governor was to be present. Our information is now to the effect that these gum-diggers were Pai Marne emissaries to convert the hitherto friendly natives, and sow disaffection and distrust of the Europeans in their minds. Thus it will be seen that the work so laboriously effected by Mr Commissioner Mackay of bringing these natives to a just sense of their duty, and the necessity for their submission to the law, will be marred, if not altogether destroyed. As we have seen, it takes bat a short time to develope the worst phases of Pai Marirism, and it is not improbable that we may soon hear of the diabolical practices of Kereopa and his followers being enacted amongst the newly-made converts at the Thames. We are only repeating a now pretty generally admitted truth when we say that, from the facility with which the natives put off even the outward form of Christianity, and revert to their heathen practices, it is but too apparent that the divine principles of the Christian religion have never been fully impressed upon them. Their civilization and worship has indeed been only a gloss to cover the savage nature unchanged within. Government, as we have said, appear afraid, or are careless of attempting to cope with Pai Marirism. Has the spirit of Te Ua also infected them, or are they bent upon allowing this fearful moral plague to devastate theisland with the hope that it will ultimately work its own cure? However that may be, there is one thing which calls for the immediate attention of the Government, and that is the imminent peril of our native allies, the Arawas. These men espoused the cause of the Government; their operations against the rebels have beeu approved of and en-

couraged by the Government ; and for the sake of humanity tiie government are bound to defend them. We hope the assistance that should and mast be given will be prompt and effectual.