Notes on the Hervey Islands.

Manawatu Herald, 5 July 1892, Page 3

Notes on the Hervey Islands.

a state of semi-civilation. But the knowledge is a matter of word only. The introduction of Christianity has done much for these people ; but in the grave question of sexual relations their condition, despite rigid laws so rigidly enforced, is worse than itjwas in the days of heathenism and cannibalism. The fact remains that while in the old heathen days they at least held their own, the race is now steadily dying out from end to end of the Pacific, arid their lovely islands are gradually becoming waste places. The post office at these islands is yet an agency of the New Zealand office. The currency is the silver dollar, originally and still considered as four shillings in account. The coin in use is Chilian, which has been able from it low intrinsic value to drive, all all other money out of the field. This dollar is exchanged for three shillings in in British sterling, but is seldom worth even that sum as silver. ,New Zealand and Tahiti complete for the trade of the islands, and last year the imports were 131,4225, of which 70,447$ worth were from New Zealand, and 54,---486$ worth from Tahiti. The exports for the same period were, to New Zealand 112,589$ to Tahiti 27,9685. Amongst the exports from the islands were, 40,7091bs of cotton, 834,1031bs of Copra, 150,1441bs of Coffee and 28,5901bs cocoanuts.

(Continued.) Ohuroh government upon these islands seems to have been accompanied with many serious * evils. It is wonderful, that not two years ago, under the rule of a Christian church, suoh deeds should have been possible, as are asserted to have been done, by the British Resident. No records of trials were kept, therefore great abuses became possible. Statements of the most shocking cruelty practised upon prisoners to make them criminate themselves, and of very immoral proceedings on the part of the police themselves, are to be heard from very credible people. So great, however, is the terror ingpired by the police, that the natives who give the information always do bo under pledges of secrecy. Women are said to have been exposed in dark holes, and with little or no clothing to the attacks of mosquitoes 5 men are said to have been hung up by the feet. The object is generally to discover how some suspicious possession of theirs had been obtained, Mr Moss had the most convincing proof of the deliberate tortue of girls and women by forcing them to stand (lare-feet) for long hours on the rounded end of an inverted native drum, about four inches in breadth arid eighteen to twenty inches in length. A stick is held in the hand?, which are raised to the full length of the arms above the head. In this position they are watched by the policemen, who strikes the arms sharply at the elbow it there is any attempt to lower them, and the heels antlaDkles sharply if there is any attempt at movement in their direction; Under these circumstances a confession is sure to be obtained ! The Resident states that hitherto religious sentiments have been too exclusively cultivated. None could be better conversant with the Bible —with the Old Testament particularty, which is naturally more atractive than the New to a people in