PACIFIC SLAVE TRADE OUTRAGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 251, 21 November 1872, Page 5

PACIFIC SLAVE TRADE OUTRAGE.

Our telegrams refer to the labor vessel, the Nukulau, whose captain and two others were arrested for illegal practices. The following were the nefarious deeds of this vessel :—": — " It is alleged of the Nukulau and other trading vessels, that mock religious services were held on board that vessel, by which instrumentality natives were decoyed on board, induced to assemble in the hold for the worship of God, and when a large number of them were thus congregated together, the hatchesweresuddenlybattened down and the ship sped her way on to Fiji with her living cargo of human captives. The first step towards successfully accomplishing &ham religious services was the distribution of real rel'gious tracts, printed in an aboriginal language. This was done in situations where the natives had evinced a friendly spirit. As soon as that fact was demonstrated, one of the crew would go ashore among the aboriginals, dressed in habiliments snch as the late Bishop Patteson was known to wear, and commence the work of so'ving broadcast God's message of love to the human race. If the vessel was anchored near the shore, so that sounds could be easily wafted to the beach, the ship's bell was solemnly rung at intervals, and that was done for the purpose of calling the natives together ou board tbe ship. By signs and gestures the emissary ashore, in sainted garments, imitating Bishop Patteson, would send the natives on board the vessel, in order that a monster service might be held. In what manner were they to be instructed — were they to first listen to the j blessings of revealed religion ? Learning the Gospel was the means whereby the natives were forcibly detained, and against their will transported to Fiji.