NO MORE MEAT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 435, 20 January 1933, Page 5

NO MORE MEAT

(Press Assn.-

cannibal chief takes vow to amend his menu MESSAGE TO KING

— By Telegrnp.'a — Oooyrlgnt)

London, Decemher 28. Miss Evelyn Cheesman read a paper before the Royal Geographical Society recently on her entomological exploration of the islands of the New Hebrides. All the interior of the north of the small island of Atchin, she said, is owned by two cannibal tribes known as the Big Nambas and the Small Nambas. The lecturer paid a visit to Ringapat, King of the Big Nambas, who explained many points about cannibalism which gave her an entirely new view of it. The motive for cannibalism is fear of the spirit of a murdered man. Ringapat asked Miss Cheesman to forward the following letter to King George: — "Ringapat, King of the Big Nambas, wishes King George to know that he will never eat man's flesh, white man or black boy; that he will never kill man, either white man or black boy; and tbat he will be good to all white men so long as they are good to his boys and do not steal them." She understood that this was Ringapat's personal vow to the King, for he empliasised that he could not reform some of his chiefs. Ringapat's message had been prepared for some time, but he wished to send a present with it. He selected some black and white beads made of shells and coconut, whieh he had himself worn for many years, and a carved spear which had been in his family for generations.