HORRIBLE ATROCITIES IN NEW CALEDONIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 327, 27 November 1865, Page 1

HORRIBLE ATROCITIES IN NEW CALEDONIA.

The last file of newspapers received from New Caledonia gives particulars of fearftil murders and cannibalism by the natives there. The New Caledonian iloniteur thus refers to (hem:—“ In •July last, the settler Taillard was assassinated by the aborigines at the distance of a kilometre and a-half horn the camp of Houagap, on the East Coast; and almost at the same moment the crew of the fishing vessel the Queen of the Isles were massacred and eaten by the natives of Pouangue and of Paquifepe, on* the West Coast. The murderers of Taillard were brothers of the former chief of Houagap, and parents of the chiefs shot in 1862, for having taken part in setting fire to the mission of Touho, and Jive in the Condon territory, situate in the interior. Immediately on the intelligence being conveyed to the Governor, he caused an armed expedition to proceed in search of the murderers. The Fulton and Bonita carried his Excellency the Governor, a detachment of 114 soldiers, 190 natives allies, artillery, &0., and anchored at Gatope, in Chasseloup Bay, on the 6th September, when the sickening inteligence was communicated to the Governor that on the 24th August, five men belonging to pilot-boat the Secret, had fallen into the hands of the natives of Pouangue and Paquiphe, and had chared the same fate of the crew of the Queen of the Isles. Thes-details of the bloody drama had been furnished by natives from Pauaco—who affirmed that they had taken no part in the proceedings. The information thus obtained was to the effect that the natives of Paqui&pe and of Pouangue made their way towards the Secret, and, seeing that the crew permitted them to approach, at oucc threw themselves on board. Two of the

sailors had their heads split by the tomahawk cuts. Two others, of whom one was the master (Gerard), leapt into the youyou in their endeavor to escape, but they were almost immediately overtaken by a band of Kanacks. One of them seized the barrel of the gun with which Gerard was endeavoring to protect himself, and another split thd unfortunate man’s skull in two with one cut of the tomahawk. The fifth victim was a youth of 17 years of age. Horrified at these proceedings, and not knowing where to hide himself, he threw himself into the rigging, weeping, and supplicating the savages to have pity upon him. At the moment when he was being seized by one of the natives he cast himself overboard upon a bank of coral, when he was immediately tomahawked. The bodies of the victims were removed to Pouan-loiche—-the principal village of the tribe, making part of the population of Paquidpe and of Pouangue—and served up at a cannibal festival. Presents of the human flesh were also forwarded to many of the neighboring tribes.” The expedition in pursuit of the cannibals was very successful, and many paid the penalty for their crimes.