Native Dishonesty.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 21 February 1891, Page 2

Native Dishonesty.

Some years ago, when Key. John Paton was a missionary on the island of Tanna, one of the New Hebrides Group, he found the natives very dishonest and lightfingered and "toed." He states "their skill in stealing on the sly was phenomenal ! If an article fell, or was seen on the floor, a Tanna man would neatly cover it with hia foot, while looking you, frankly in the face, and, having fixed it by his toe or by bending in, his great toe like a thumb to hold it, would walk off with it, assuming the most innocent look in the world. In this way a knife or a pair oosf s scissors, or any smaller article, would at once disappear. Another fellow would deftly stick something out of sight amongst the whipcord plaits of his hair, another would conceal it underneath his naked arm, while yet another would shamelessly lift what he coveted and openly carry it away. With most of them, however, the shame was not in the theft, but in doing it so clumsily that they were discovered." On another occasion, MtPaton had his bed clothes in the sun to dry. _ He stood at hand watching, as well as two native^eachers. ants mept;tc^lpve^^^^ch«d or not, and descended toil* pa|jdevice, " suddenly, M3aki, who with his war companions hacL-been watching ub unobserved, came rushing to :> me breathless and alone, crying-*' Missi, come in, quick, quick! I want to tell you sonneting and to get your advice ! " He ran into my house, and I followed ; but before he had got into his story, we heard the two women crying out, — Missi, Misai, come quick! Miaki's men are stealing your sheets and blankets." I ran at once, but all were gone into the bush and with them my sheets and blankets." w