23

A;—3,

No. 3. Papers communicated by " The Vagabond," Julian Thomas, to the Sydney " Daily Telegraph." [Extract from the Sydney Daily Telegraph, lltli December, 1880.] South Sea Massacres, ey "the vagabond." Is the Caucasian played out in the South Seas? As far as British subjects are concerned it would seem so. During the last few months outrage upon outrage, massacre upon massacre, have been committed by the natives. Englishmen have died slow and lingering deaths ; English vessels have been captured and pillaged. The savages of the Solomon Islands have been enjoying a saturnalia of bloodshed and robbery. With impunity they have followed up their misdeeds. Sir Arthur Gordon, High Commissioner of Polynesia, at Levuka, has prated about the " colour-blindness " of the white race. Judge Gorrie, Judicial Commissioner, has from the bench enunciated most startling theories as to the inhumanity displayed towards '•' the poor natives." Both these officials have for years been playing to the gallery of Exeter Hall, and no doubt have acquired in Great Britain a great reputation for philanthropy—earned, as results show, at the cost of the blood of their countrymen. Now the savages have culminated their outrages by the murder of a naval officer and four seamen. Vengeance is loudly called for, and no doubt the call will be answered; but the public mind is largely exercised as to the reason of these continued massacres. Various theories have been started. One, that they are in retaliation for " atrocities " generally committed by white men ; another, that they are acts of revenge for the kidnapping which takes place in the labour trade ; a third, with more reason, because British men-of-war have not meted out retribution for past offences. In this last argument, however, an injustice, as I shall show, is done to the naval commanders on this station. In giving my contribution to this discussion, I speak as one having some slight authority. I know many of the Pacific Islands; I have seen the working of the " labour trade" in Queensland, New Caledonia, and Fiji. During a late three months' sojourn in the latter colony I saw the survivors of many of the' massacres of which we have lately heard. I acquired extensive information on this subject, and had evidence of the administration of justice in the High Commissioner's Court. We must discuss this subject on present issues. It is needless to go to the records of the past when white men were guilty of rapine and bloodshed in the South Seas. Little use to rake up the records of the " Carl". affair, nor even Bishop Patteson's opinions on the labour traffic. Kidnapping, no doubt, there was in the old days ; deeds done which, to think of, makes our blood boil with indignation. What we want to know is the reason of these things now, when missionary influence has spread ; when trade and commerce has penetrated to every island in the Pacific; when the natives are protected by a High Commissioner and many Deputy Commissioners, costing Great Britain some £20,000 annually. To put it down to the labour traffic is absurd. Both Fijian and Queensland "recruiting" vessels carry responsible Government agents, whose presence is sufficient now to prevent any of the abuses which have been alleged. There is no doubt that the chief of a tribe may, on consideration o£ a present •which he values, make a number of his followers " enlist," but as far as the colonial officers are concerned these come away willingly. I have seen in Queensland, Noumea, and Levuka many labour vessels arrive. The " recruits " all seemed happy ; there would be sure to be one amongst them who had been in the port before who would explain the many strange objects they saw, and at which they would all be amazed and amused. During their term of labour these islanders are well fed, supplied with tobacco and clothes ; not too hardly worked; and, except in isolated cases, generally well used. When their three years of service is over they invest the money then paid to them in beads, hatchets, and firearms, and return to their island homes rich as one who in the old days had shook the pagoda tree. The custom, I believe, is that there is a free fight and scramble amongst the tribe for this plunder, and that the returned emigrant is generally left with nothing but the satisfaction that he has been a public benefactor. But many of the island tribes live in communities, as in Australia. "What's yours is mine " is the doctrine, and, if the result of the Kanaka's labour is not much to himself, at least he has done more good to the world working on a plantation than idling away his time in a state of semi-starvation on his native island. I defend the labour trade therefore. The French vessels are, I believe, a little less particular in "recruiting," and their mode of apportioning "hands" to the highest bidder is more like slavery. But we seldom hear of a Frenchman being killed. Why ? Because France protects her citizens. If anything should happen to one of them in the South Seas a man-of-war will visit the spot, and the chief of the offending tribe will be hung. How differently haa England's representative in the Pacific acted ! I charge Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of New Zealand and High Commissioner of the Pacific, and John Gorrie, Chief Justice of Fiji and Judicial Commissioner, with being morally responsible for the bloodshed which has occurred during the last twelve months. I will give facts to support this charge ! It must be remembered that Sir Arthur Gordon is the pet, not only of the Court, but of that powerful party known in England as "Exeter Hall." Judge Gorrie is more, he is the protege of the Aborigines Protection Society. In all their public acts and words they follow out the theory that the natives of the Pacific are mild, innocent savages, and all white traders and sailors in the seas murdering wretches. The poor natives must be protected. By various Acts of Council and Orders in Council Sir Arthur Gordon has absolute and arbitrary power in the Western Pacific, his jurisdiction extending over the eastern half of New Guinea. Any British subject can be " deported ". from one island to another; may, without any cause but the will of the High Commissioner, be ordered to leave hia business or occupation in any native island ; if he refuses to comply may be taken to Fiji and imprisoned for contempt. Any colonial or British vessel may be seized and taken to Fiji. Any British subject, for any alleged offences against the natives, may be tried before the Judicial Commissioner at Fiji—and tried, be it remembered, without a jury. All the powers of the High Commissioner have been exerted against the white and in favour of the native race, and, the men-of-war in this portion of the Pacific being under his orders and instructions, the officers are not to blame for the apathy shown with regard to the loss of valuable lives.