TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. ROSARIO.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 121, 28 February 1872, Page 3

TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. ROSARIO.

Tills New Zealand Herald of Tuesday contains the following, which, it alleges, is the true narrative , and states :

“Our informant says:—The Rosario arrived off the island of Nukapu on the 21Uli November, and the captain wishing to effect a friendly communication with the natives, sent a boat in charge of an officer, with most positive orders not to offend in any way so as to provoke hostilities, and not to lire even though tired on themselves by the natives, the chief object being to find out the cause which induced them to make the murderous attack on the Bishop. “ The boat went in, and though signs of peace were made by the natives, waving green branches, and beckoning them to approach the shore, when within about ninety yards they were assailed, in a most treacherous manner, by a flight of arrows. According (o orders,the boat then returned to the ship. “ The boat was sent to the island a second lime, with orders to wave while handkerchiefs, and to call out the names of the two chiefs, Tan la and Afotu, (tho two men who had accompanied Bishop Pattcson on shore when lie was killed), hut with the like result.

“A third trial to effect a landing, and open friendly communication with the natives was made ; hut such an attack was made on the boat, that in order to protect tlie boat’s crew, a shell was filed from tho ship to disperse tlio natives. Up to this time a single shot had not been fired by the ship or landing parly in the boat.

“ Having been received in such a hostile manner, Captain Alnrklinm deemed it only judicious to force a landing, to show the savage islanders that a man-of-war's boat was not to he attacked with impunity. He therefore pulled in with his boats. Being a long way in advance of tho others, Captain Markham pulled close in, and waved a white handkerchief. lie also stood up in his gig, and held up Ins hands to show that lie was unarmed, being still determined to land peaceably. At the same time lie called out for Tania and Alolu ; in fact, doing everything possible to establish friendly communications with the islanders. But the only answer lie received was a shower of arrows, many striking and going over the boat, the natives at the same time shouting, yelling, and dancing in a defiant manner. “ On the arrival of the other boats, the order to land was given, which wav speedily effected, though not without a most determined opposition. To punish them for their active hostility, tho village and several canoes were burned, the natives retreating into the bush, though not before two of tho best, men cm the ship’s roll had been wounded, one of whom has since died.

“ If it had been Captain Markham's wish to punish the islanders more severely, or, as it has been slated, ‘to take vengeance for Bishop Palleson’s death’ it could easily have been done, the island being so small Ihc whole population might have been exterminated. As it was, their loss could not have been great. 8o far as those on hoard the Rosario knew, no casualties occurred amongst tho natives.”

Our informant proceeds to justify Captain Markham, who could not, he alleges, have gone quietly away alter his boats and tlie British flag had been tired on. '1 lie natives would at once have said that they had beaten oft a man-of-war. It is to be regretted, however, that Captain Markham was unable to hint out, from the natives, their reason for attacking the Bishop and his.party. Our informant continues : “ The account which has appeared in the newspapers is merely a narrative of the Rosario’s engagements with the natives at the different islands. Nothing is said of what was done by Captain Markham for the protection oil the poor natives, who appeared to he more sinned against than sinning; nor has a word been said of the very hard and trying work on the late cruise, with the vessels engaged iu the so-called labour trade (which is nothing more than downright slavery). During Hie late cruise of t ho Rosario, sixteen of these labour vessels were hoarded, two of which were reported fo the Governor of New South \\ ales for illegal trading, the masters of which Capfain Markham caused to sign a paper to that effect, the production of which, in a Court of law, it is hoped may he sufficient t» convict them. The vessels were not seized, the precedents in the Daphne and Challenge eases being a sufficient deterr tit. “ Two months after punishing the natives of the island of Nguna, for the massacre of the crew of the English schooner Fanny, the Rosario returned to that island, when Captain Markham had an interview with the chiefs, who told him that the murder had been committed .on account of one of tbeir women—an albino woman, the wife of one of their chiefs, having been stolen from the island by the schooner Donald McLean, taken down to Tanna, and there sold for labour. I>J a curious coincidence, about a lorlnight afterwards, the Rosario was cruising about visiting the different villages on the west coast of Tanna, and in one of them this identical women was discovered. She was released from slavery, and although it detained the ship several days, taking her many hundred miles out of hoi way, the woman was returned fo her own friends. Captain Markham received quite an ovation from the islanders, who were anxious to load his boat with pigs, bananas, i‘vc. fin leaving, the natives lan along the beach, cheering the boat as it pulled off to the ship. There can be no doubt that what was done at Ibis island will have a good effect on tlie natives,and will quite establish llieireontideuce in mcii-of-wnr and honest white men. “The Rosario visited, during the b'.st three months, no less than six-anu-lwenty different islands belonging to the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz groups, and the natives who have come under the influence 1 of missionaries, were everywhere quiet ! and well-disposed, and willing, to trade. I At other places, where the missionaries ! had not obtained a footing or iiiiluenee, ! the natives were wary, and inclined. to be, i hostile and treacherous, which is all attributable entirely to the numerous I cases of kidnapping and other outrages

which are continually being committed by the slavers, or as they are generally termed, labour vessels. Until Ibis most nefarious traffic is put a stop to r rva_.man’s life will be safe amongst these islands. The cruise of the Rosario was a most eventful one, and was productive of benefit to the unhappy natives in the islands visited.”