CRUISE OF THE SCHOONER WINIFRED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 15, 17 January 1879, Page 4

CRUISE OF THE SCHOONER WINIFRED.

[PER PBESS AGENCY.] Aackland, Tuesday. An interesting account is given of the cruise of the schooner Winifred, in search of labor. She left Levuka on October 17. She first visited Rroraanga and A pie. Not far from Le Menu Island, the Captain lauded and visile! a " Devils House.'* Tbere were two gods or devils inside, which were merely faces cut out of wood (not bedly) and painted. After this the natives became cheeky, until the peculiar click of the revolver from under the shirt made tbem polite ngein very quickly. Tbe Api peoplo are bloodthirsty and deceitful, and not to be trusted. She spoke the May Queen from Brisbane, 24 days ont. Sighted Na Kuba Island, where Ibe natives were fighting with the people ou tbe mainland. At the Island Malip there are tbree towns, and tbe cative3 are fighting. It appears a wife was caught in her infidelity, and the man and woman were both killed with kniveß, and now his friends and her's want blood and revenge. The Winifred proceeded to Oba. Tbe natives stated tbat towards the lee end of the island tbe people killed a Manilla man named Josi tome short time ago, who was settled on tbe island, and trading for Mr McLe&d, of Noumea. Oa the 220d, off Pentecost, the vessel conld not communicate with the people wbere the wbite man had been lately killed. We heard tbe man-of-war had beeo here, burnt the (owo, destroyed tbe jam plantations, and killed one man. We also heard that one of the whites had been either badly wounded or killed. In working along towards Ambrym the [second mate's boat went ashore again first, bat returning in about twenty minutes, reported tbat on backing in to trede, the qatives fired poisoned arrows at them, one of which hit oue of the Api boat's crew a little above the knee. On getting on board, in aboat 15 minutes, tbe wound was lanced, and well washed out with carbolic acid. Tbe arrow was extracted, and the woond healed. The natives lit a fire, and waved tbe boat in, and before any communication took place hegan firing. Tbe whites in her say positively that not the slightest provocation was given by them oo the west coast of Api. The captain learned that tbe men on a small island killed a boshman and ate bim. They then came to visit the ship, and be Saw the fresh ' arm-bone of a man in tbeir canoe. It appears the boshman killed their chief a short time ago at Havannab Harbor. The missionary vessel Day. pring was at anchor. The captcin was informed here that the Heather Bell from Queensland tost a wbite man at Oba, who foolishly went ashore and was killed.