NEW HEBRIDES. HOSTILITY OF THE NATIVES. DANGER OF THE SCHOONER GAEL'S CREW.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 365, 4 May 1889, Page 4

NEW HEBRIDES. HOSTILITY OF THE NATIVES. DANGER OF THE SCHOONER GAEL'S CREW.

Tim accounts which airive from the New Hebrides gioup ot the expeiience of peaceful traders to these islands continue to be ot an alarming nature, so far a& the safety of tho trading: vessels' crews is concerned, The latest report reached Sydney a <-hort time ago by the Auckland brigantine Ika Vuka, whose master, Captain Pennal, has since come on to this port. Captain Pennal says of Mallicolo, a large island, Sandwich Island, and one or two others ia tho gioup, that they aie dangerous places to trade at, owing to the bit for hostility of the native tribes. Instead of, in late years, becoming better disposed towards the white man, they seem to fear and detest him more. This is almost without doubt owing to the many uncalled for acts of violence and wholesale kidnapping and slaughter committed in former ycais — not so very long ago either — by labour vessels and island traders. This lms, it is hoped, long ceased, but still the natives cannot foiget their injuries, and so in consequence often avenge themselves upon innocent; crews, causing those " Island tragedies" we hear of e\erynow and again. Espiritu Santo, Tana, Paama, Pentecost, Ambrym, Mallicolo, Sandwich and other islands in the New Hebrides group have a very bad name amongst trading vessels, as ciews landing theie to trade or to procure food and water are constantly in danger of being cut off. As late as November last H.M.s. Opal, in company with the Fiench man-o-war Fabert, bombarded villages? on Pentecost Inland for the murder of j\lr Vernon Lee Walker and all his boat's crew, and a shoit time afterwards landed and burnt villages on Ambrym. Soon afterwards, &he shelled villages on Paama in revenge for attacks upon Biitish tradeis by the natives, but was unable to come to quarters with the natives themselves. Notwithstanding the occasional hostile visits to the islands of war vessels, the natives have \ery little dread of any consequences to themselves from the ships, and legard the thicat of punishment with contempt. It ill be remeinbcied that some two months ago the AuckTand schooner Gael (which left this port only a short time previously, having been purchased by Capt. Donald McLeod, of Havannah Harbour, Sandwich Island) was totally wrecked on the coral reef at Mallicolo Island. The mate and one of the crew arrived in Sydney by the Ika Vuka, and give an account of their experiences. When the wreck occurred, which was on a dark and rainy night, all on board managed to reach the bhore after saving e\ery thing they could from the wreck. The natives were gathering on the hillsides, and it was observed as a bad omen that neither women nor boys were amongst their number, so that it was evident mischief was intended. The shipwrecked crew and passengers, 23 all told, were surrounded on the beach by the armed natives, who started pilfering the saved property, This went on till a decisive stand was taken, the crew threatening to the on the MaUioolo iren. Seeing that the white people were all armed with rifles and revolvers, the natives eventually fell back reluctantly, finding that the sailors were not so easily over mastered as they thought. During the whole time the Gael's crew were on the island, until they weie taken off by another vossel, e\ery man had to carry aims—a i-ifle or revolver — for fear of an attack, while at night half the number had to keep strict guard in watches while the others slept. It is extremely probable that had the castaways been destitute of firearms when they landed from the ill-fated Gael in their whaleboats, they would have been massacred to a man, thus going to add another dark page to the already long list of Island tragedies. Captain Pennal says it is very unsafe for traders to land on many of the islands of the New Hebrides, excepting in strong parties well armed. It seems to still be an indispensable qualification in masters and crews ot vessels trading to the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, Loyalty Islands, Santa Cruz, and other South Sea groups, that they should, if need arise, be as well able to handle the rifle as to take an observation or splice a rope.

Minister (dining with family): "This is a very nice dinner, isn't it, Bobby ?" Bobby (onjoying ib) : "It ought to be. Pa figured it out that it would cost him over five-and-twenty shillings."