THE MASSACRES AT WOODLARK AND TANNA ISLANDS.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 106, 26 October 1858, Page 3

THE MASSACRES AT WOODLARK AND TANNA ISLANDS.

The following extracts from the report of (japtain Loring, of H.M.S. Iris, relative to his recent visit to the above islands, are published in the Sydney Herald. The Iris had been sent down, not so much for the purpose of avenging the murder of the crew of the Gazelle as because a report existed that two white men were still alive and were held in captivity. Whether this report had any foundation in fact or not can hardly he ascertained now with any certainty, for the search was so long omitted that it is just possible that two of the crew may have survived their comrades, and subsequently died or been murdered. When the liis arrived, the massacre had been committed nearly three years; the remains of the wreck were still visible, but no signs were seen of any of , the crew. It will be seen that no attempt was made to commit havock on the population, the object being only to destroy property and not life. The village of Gussup, which had been identified as connected with the massacre, was destroyed without any los 3on the part ofthe assailants. The moaning' of this attack was explained to t\\e islanders through the medium of two natives who had been in Sydney, and who could talk a little English. Though the letter of Captain Loring does not state whether the explanation was furnished after or before-the punishment, we hope that, whenever it was delivered, it was made correctly, for on the right understanding of the intentions of the British commander would greatly depend the efficacy of his treatment. Uncivilised tribes do not generally discriminate very nicely, between punishment for crime and retaliation for injuries, and are naturally more apt to construe an attack upon them into being the latter rather then the former, as the motives they are more accustomed to themselves. Under this false impression, what was meant for mercy they might mistake for weakness, and be rather stimulated to take another revenge in turn whenever the opportunity offered, than to be awed into humanity from the fear of bringing down on themselves terrible disaster. "On June 21st we left Port de France and called at Aniteum; and then, un consequence of a requisition from his Excellency Sir William Denison, proceeded to Tanna: "In December last, the master and two seamen of the Sydney schooner Ann and Jane had been barbarously and treacherously murdered by the tribe of Wagus, on the north-west side of Tanna. I fully ascertained the fact and also the locality of the murder, and all other possible information ; and I succeeded in seizing Wan Attaway, the chief of the tribe; and in spirit of their lordships' letter of 13th' October, 1857, (M), anchored the ship off the beach, at 9 a.m., July Ist. In order to prevent unnecessary bloodshed, and as a sort of declaration of war, a few shots and shell were fired, to drive away the savages who had assembled on the beach. We then landed with a hundred men, under the command of Lieutenants Deane and Bell, R.N., and Lieutenant Bent, R.M., and burnt the principal settlement, cutting down the cocoanut and bread fruit trees, and destroying the bananas, <fee, in the immediate neighborhood of the village of the chief. In performing this service we were much assisted by the masters and native crews of the trading vessels Terror, New Forest, and Hirondelle, —Messrs. Edwards, Mare, and Rodd. We found the scrub very dense; and the eyes and ears of these natives auxiliaries were very necessary to scout and give warning, as the savages were close upon us, and watching for an opportunity during the whole of our proceedings. " I regret to have to report the loss of Mr. Edward Tupper, mate, and William Kennedy, captain of the hold, who had separated themselves too far from the main party, and were taken at advantage and cut off by the savages. We succeeded in recovering the body of Mr. Tupper, but not that of William Kennedy, and we re-embarked at 3 p.m. " But for the loss of Mr. Tupper and William Kennedy, I should have considered the day's work of destruction of property sufficient; but il now became advisable to shew that this loss had nothing to do with our retiring, and on the following day we re-landed, and committed further destruction amongst the fruit trees, without any molestation from the savages, and then returned on hoard and proceeded to the anchorage at Black Beach. " I then called at Havannah Harbor, Sandwich Island, to complete water, and proceeded on, anchoring at Woodlark Island on July 21st, under the lea of a small island, about three, miles distant from the remains of the wreck of the brig Gazelle, the murder of whose crew is referred to in their lordships' letter of 13th October, 1857. (M.) *' For several days the S.E. trade blew so strong that I could do nothing. As opportunity offered, Mr. Arquinban, the master, ascertained by soundings that it would not be prudent to attempt to take the ship any higher up, and having made myself well acquainted with the localities of the guilty tribe of "Gussup," I proceeded on Tuesday, July 27th, with the boats and small-arm. men, &c, commanded as before, to the main village. • "We landed, and burnt and destroyed the hoUses and canoes, and re-embarked without casualty, or indeed any show of opposition. The loss of property has been considerable, ahd I trust that any future ship-wrecked seamen will be treated with humanity, as through the medium of two natives who had been at Sydney, and could speak a little English, it was fully explained that the burning ofthe villages was in retribution for the murder of the crew of the Gazelle. "I do not consider that Woodlark Island is likely at any time, to be a place of trade or importance. It appears that the inhabitants are not numerous, that there are no articles of commerce, and the navigation to the anchorage is so intricate and dangerous as to be quite unfit for a sailing ship of any size. I could not have found my way to the place except for the assistance of Mr. Alexander Barrack, formerly master of the schooner Favorite, who had been sent with me by the colonial Government at Sydney to give me the benefit ot his local knowledge; and in running into the anchorage the ship-struck on a small and detached rock, though, I trust, without material damage. The weather was unfavorable during our stay of eight days, and I did not think the place was of sufficient importance to delay longer in order to . make a regular survey. " I have endeavored, but it is very difficult, to ascertain the loss of life on the part ofthe savages: I think that in all probability it did not exceed five, as our object was to destroy property and not life, except when attacked." The same journal has the following remarks on the above subject:—" Captauv Loring intimates that his proceedings have been carried on in the spirit of instruction received from the Lords of the x Admiralty. We can readily believe that the duty to be performed was one by no means of the most congenial kind to a naval commander.' It is not that kind of warfare between equal foes, which delights the sph-its of brave men. The feeling of humanity which would protect our own countrymen, is to some extent in collition with the feeling ■of humanity which would pity rather than punish the degraded condition of the savages. And while it is necessary to impart salutary lessons in order to prevent future massacres, it is impossible not to feel that inhumanity can hardly be charged as a crime. against those who have never been blessed with the humanising influences of civilisation. It is while contemplating the uncertain value of the lessons taught by a man-of-war, that we learn fully to appreciate the- greater value of the lessons taught by the messenger of. peace. The missionaries have already rendered invaluable service to commerce, in the number of islands that ; "they, have made it safe to visit; and whenever [ they shall have been enabled to extend the knowledge and influence of Christianity over all the int habited islands, such massacres as those that have lately occurred will no longer be heard of, and ■ such visits as those of the Iris will no longer be i. necessary."