Native Outrage at Brooker Island.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3181, 30 April 1879, Page 2

Native Outrage at Brooker Island.

THE TILLAGES SHELLED.

Noumea, April 4.

H.M.S. Cormorant, Captain Bruce, anchored here a few hours after the departure of the mail. She comet from a cruise of tome months amongst the South Sea Islands, and reports the discovery of no less than forty or fifty shoals and reefs not laid down upon the charts; These were caused, no doubt, daring the volcanic disturbances which some months since so altered the soundings at Tanna Island, as you were advised. One important mission of the Cormorant was to inquire into the circumstances of the murder of Mr Ingham, at Brooker Island. Captain Bruce asserts that the good results which would have followed the visit of the Cormorant were much lessened by the fact of the natives being forewarned by traders of what they had to expect. On arriving at the place they cunningly pretended the most lamblike innocence, coming off in their canoes to trade, bringing: island produce, and conducting themselves in such a way that Captain Bruce, being refused the aid he fully expected from the missionaries, found it impossible to treat such confidence in any way but a friendly manner, until, per* revering in searching for proof of their. culpability, the remains of poor Mr. Ingham's boat and the plunder were discovered by the search party, Then the " in* nocent" natives made themselves scarce as before they had been " confiding-" Possessed of the appliances and the determination to make their power known Capt. Bruce soon convinced the wretches of their powerlessness when one of H.M. ships, doing more than merely showing her teeth, proves she can bite, and very hard too. When the murderers fled for protection to the other side of the shelter* ing hills, distant a mile or two from the ship, they found themselves pursued by rocket shells, which followed them „ over the hills and far away," and burst amongst them some thirty or forty seconds after the watchers on the hill tops had seen the shot fired from the vessel. They must have thought that the very "devil," (their only god) was pursuing them to death. More especially when after the ship had left, they found their villages devastated, though not a man had put his

foot on shore. Captain Bruee very wisely .- punishing the treacherous cannibals in a most effective manner without useless risk to his crew, one man of which is of more value than the whole population ten times told of one of the " Cannibal Is«*. lands." A new and very great danger is being fostered by traders amongst the South Sea Islands; one of the articles - most in demand by the islanders is dynamite! Will the greed for money pause at nothing with some people P It is devoutly to be hoped that those , mercenary spirits'who, for the sake of" gaining a few paltry shillings, place in the possession of these blood-thirsty-blacks so powerful a weapon of destruction will be i the first to fall a victim to its employment. Sooner or later there is little doubt but some of these cunning civilised fellows, who have spent years amongst the whites in Queensland, New Caledonia, or Fijig f who speak good English or French, and r are perfectly acquainted with the use of many articles of civilised life, including the death-dealing dynamite, will blow some vessel to pieces with this explosive. What's easier than for these cunning fellows to visit a vessel in the most friendly spirit, find out if she has . plenty of trade on board, then at a givea<<J signal the canoes all leave the vessel. One of the best speaking, most friendly fellows, remaining on board till the canoes are at a safe distance, when he drops his charge of dynamite in the ship, plunges over* board, diving like a fish, and coming up to see the vessel sinking, and the canoes returning to get their trade and the furY nishing of a cannibal feast for nothing, Is there no power to make the selling of dynamite to the South Bsa Islander a crime severely punishable P There is surely enough murder and blood • shedding already amongst the Pacific Islanders. This dynamite 3 question reminded Captain Bruce of an expedition up the Niger, in Africa, the shores of which river he found lined with cannon of various eallibre sold to the natives by the very merchants whose interest the expedition was sent to protect. —B.M. Herald. t ;