BARNEY ABOUT A BELLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 92, 23 March 1907, Page 8

BARNEY ABOUT A BELLE.

The Thin Veneer of Civilisation. Christianity and civilisation have not progressed so remarkably m the islands of the Pacific as the missionaries make out. Now that some of those islands are being •threatened with Mahomedanisra it might just as well he that some other brand of religion or civilisation should bo tried on. How the natives are Christianised m Fiji may be imagined from a Fijian paper's account of a recent fracas m one of those islands: — It appears that a Solomon Islander employed by Mr. Allen APPROPRIATED THE WIFE of a "boy" employed by Messrs. A. M. Brodziak and Co., and took her to the Solomon Island village near the signal station^ The husband went to bring her back, but on arrival at the settlement ha was set upon by a number of Polynesian friends of the- abductor and very badlybeaten. The " boy " returned to his house and informed his friends of the affair, and they decided to accompany him on Saturday afternoon last to parley with those m possession. ,> They evidently were expected, as they were set URdn r wlth axes, knives and clubs as soon as they appeared. Brodziak's "boy," to whom the^voman belonged, was_ badly chopped. about with- an—axe, sustaining a very ugly wound m the forehe£d_and another on tne shoulder, azjd other minor abrasions abouVjhe body. Sam, a " boy " employed by Hehfy Go. -,~ "received \ J \ A NASTY WOUNIKIN THE HEAD caused by a . knife thrown by one oi the assailants. One of Brown and Joske's boys was also badly knocked' about, being beaten wibh a club until insensible. \ This affair should have received the attention of the police authorities (considers the paper m question), and stringent measures should be taken to stbp such as if they are not nipped m the bud, and allowed to continue these assaults without interference on the part' of the police, they may lead up to very serious results. Although some of th,pse Polynesians bava been resident m Fiji for.!a'number of years* and their early savagery has been covered by a thin veneer^of civilisation, their savage nature , still remains, and upon their anger being stirred immediately they resort to the savagery which for the time being has remained dormant.*