Part 4

[18] An edible holothurian familiar throughout the East under the Malay name of _trepang_.

[19] William S. Carey.

[20] From the Malay “to carry on the back”,--a man’s burden. A commercial weight varying in different countries. In the Philippines, where the beche-de-mer was sold, it was 140 lbs.

[21] Tanoa, the most powerful chief in the Islands. He was the father of Thakombau, the most celebrated of the Fijian chiefs and the greatest stumbling block to the missionaries until he was forced as a matter of expediency to adopt the Christian religion in 1854.

[22] The houses were burned so that they might not be used by other traders.

[23] Ship “Clay” of Salem, 299 tons, built at Hanover, Mass., in 1818. Owned by John W., Nathaniel L. and Richard S. Rogers; commanded by Charles Millett.

[24] Anganga Island.

[25] Including the ship “Sophia” of London.

[26] Ship “Zeneas Coffin” of Nantucket, 338 tons, owned by C. G. and H. Coffin; commanded by George Joy.

[27] Ship “Ann Alexander” of New Bedford, 211 tons, owned by George Howland; commanded by Josiah Howland.

[28] Ship “Hector” of New Bedford, 380 tons, owned by Charles W. Morgan; commanded by John G. Morse.

[29] Maui, the second largest island of the Hawaiian group.

[30] Ship “Atlantic” of Nantucket, 321 tons. Commanded by Elihu Fisher.

[31] This church at Lahaina, Maui, was said at the time to be “the most noble structure in all Polynesia.”

[32] Penrhyn or Tongareva was discovered by Seaver in the ship “Lady Penrhyn” in 1788. When visited by the “Popoise” of the Wilkes’ Expedition in 1841 the natives were described as the wildest and most savage-looking beings that had been met with.

[33] Ovalau, a small island about 10 miles east of Viti Levu. On this island is situated the town of Levuka whose harbor is one of the best in the islands. It was the principal residence of white men in the group and was the seat of the British colonial government until 1882, when it was removed to Suva on Viti Levu.

[34] The anchors usually carried were: sheet anchor, the largest and strongest which is only used in time of direst necessity; the best bower anchor and the small bower anchor, about the same size and take their name from their position at the bow of the ship; the stream anchor, smaller than the bowers; and the kedge anchor, smallest of all.

[35] Somosomo, a town of considerable importance, situated on the island of Taviuni or Vuna off the south-eastern point of Vanua Levu the second largest island in the Fiji group.

[36] Brig “Faun” of Salem, 168 tons, built at Quincy in 1816. Owned by Robert Brookhouse of Salem, George Abbot of Beverly and Hall & Williams of Boston; commanded by James Briant. Wrecked in August 1830 on the Cakaudrove coast of Vanua Levu in the bay now called Faun Harbor.

[37] Charles Ambrose Knight, 1st mate of the ship “Friendship” of Salem, a brother of Edmund, was massacred in February 1831, by the natives at Quallah Battoo, Sumatra.

[38] Fish--a piece of timber, somewhat in the form of a fish, used to strengthen a mast or yard.

[39] Mutt-Water or Mudwater, a town on the north side of Vanua Levu. The native name was Bonne Rarah.

[40] Tackanova--Vanua Levu.

[41] The “bitter-end” is that part of the cable which is abaft the bitts when the ship rides at anchor.

[42] Chief Santa Beeta of Bonne Rarah.

[43] Bonne Rarah.

[44] Mah--Mathee.

[45] The _bure_ or temple was the council chamber and town hall of the village. Strangers were entertained there and the head persons of the village often slept in it. As the best constructed building in the village it was elaborately decorated, the timbers and rafters being wrapped with sennit in various designs of red and black. Votive offerings such as clubs, huge rolls of sennit, whale’s teeth, strips of masi, a model of a temple made of sennit or parts of a victim slain in war, decorated the interior.

[46] Sennit--a cord made of the fibre of the cocoanut husk, dried, combed and braided. The Fijians having no nails use this for all sorts of fastenings, lashings and wrappings in varied design. It is made in all sizes from a single strand to a cable and is of very considerable strength.

[47] This statement seems to be somewhat exaggerated. One canoe has been recorded as one hundred feet in length. Wilkes says that the average large canoe was seventy feet in length and would conveniently carry fifty men.

[48] _Yaquona_ of the Fijians, _kava_ of the Tongans and _awa_ of the Hawaiians, is an infusion of the root of the pepper plant (_Piper methysticum_). The root is first chewed or grated, after which the macerated mass is placed in a bowl and covered with water. The infusion is then strained through a fibre mesh and is ready to drink. It was used on occasions of ceremony or entertainment and its preparation was accompanied by a more or less elaborate ritual. It is used by the races in the Pacific who do not chew the betel nut. Its effects are intoxicating and narcotic.

[49] Tapa cloth, _masi_ of the Fijians, _siapo_ of the Samoans, _kapa_ of the Hawaiians, was the substitute for cloth and paper. It was made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry (_Broussonetia papyrifera_). The plants were carefully cultivated and when about one inch in diameter were cut down and soaked in water. The bark was removed and beaten. Different pieces were joined together and beaten into one piece so that sheets of almost any size could be made. The finished masi was then decorated by printing or stencilling with dyes of red-brown and black.

[50] One of the chief forms of mourning for the dead, in addition to wailing, was to lop off the little finger of one of the hands. Most of the older natives lost both little fingers. This was confined to the relatives of the deceased unless the latter was one of the highest chiefs when it was confined to the tribe.

[51] Brig “Niagara” of Salem, 246 tons, built at Mount Desert in 1816. Owned by Putnam I. Farnham, Jed Fry and Peter S. Webster; commanded by Nathaniel Brown. Wrecked in Ambau Bay the same day as the “Glide.”

[52] Bark “Peru”, 210 tons, built at Salem in 1823. Owned by Stephen C. Phillips; commanded by John H. Eagleston. Sold to Spanish owners at Manila in 1832. Capt. Eagleston commanded four different vessels in the Fiji trade, was familiar with the language and was on friendly terms with several of the chiefs. He rendered great assistance and furnished valuable information to Lieut. Wilkes while the U. S. Exploring Expedition was at the Fijis.

[53] Capt. Benjamin Vanderford of Salem made many voyages to the Fiji Islands and was familiar with the manners, customs and language. He was afterwards master’s mate and pilot on the U.S.S. “Vincennes” during the Wilkes’ Exploring Expedition and died, March 23, 1842, on the passage home.

[54] Uvea, northeast of Fiji. Discovered by Maurelle in 1781 and again by Wallis in 1797.

[55] Brig “Chinchilla” of New York; commanded by Thomas Meek of Marblehead.

[56] Ship “Braganza” of New Bedford, 217 tons. Owned by Phillips, Russell & Co.; commanded by Daniel Wood. Altered to a bark in 1859 and condemned at Honolulu in 1862.

[57] Eimeo, one of the Society Islands about 10 miles north west of Tahiti.

[58] This account of whaling may have been abstracted by Mr. Endicott from some now unidentified source.

A CANNIBAL FEAST AT THE FEJEE ISLANDS

BY AN EYE WITNESS

(_Reprinted from “The Danvers Courier,” Aug. 16, 1845_)

MR. EDITOR. Finding myself in possession of a little spare time, I feel disposed to improve it in overhauling a range or two of memory, and agreeably to promise to commit such of it to paper as may seem of interest, touching on incidents which occurred at the Fejee Islands while on board the Old Ship _Glide_.

It was on a pleasant afternoon in the month of March, 1831, our ship at anchor off the town of Bona-ra-ra, the crew on board employed in making senett, spun-yarn, yard mats, and other ship gear to fill up the chinks of time, and particularly the ship’s lockers with such articles as are sure to come in play on shipboard, when you have not time to make them.

We were not very busy, neither were we idle; but it was just one of those sort of days at the Fejees when all hands had been hard at work all the forenoon, boating oil to the ship, beche-le-mer, weighing, and stowing it away in the hold, and having once more cleared up decks, felt released from the regular day’s duty, and indulged ourselves in a sail privilege of telling tales, singing songs and reflecting upon “better days gone by.”

Our reveries and yarns were unbroken by any orders from aft except, to strike the bell every half hour, which if it had no other purpose reminded us that thirty minutes more had drifted astern upon the sea of time.

Five bells had been ordered from the quarter deck. I arose to execute the command, when my attention was drawn to the shore by seeing a large collection of savages on the beach, walking towards the town. Having struck the bell, I proceeded to the side of the ship where a canoe with five or six women had just arrived, to sell us fruit. I enquired of them what was the matter on shore. They immediately told me that the men had been to a fight with the Andregette tribe (who lived about thirty miles in the mountains), were victorious and had killed and taken three of their enemies, and were now going to have a grand Soleb, or feast.

I had heard David Whippy, a man who had long been a resident upon these Islands, tell many a long tale of the manners and customs of the natives, and especially of their cannibalism, and I had a strong desire to see the manner in which they prepared and ate human flesh.

While I was considering whether I would ask the liberty I wished, or not, Capt. Archer came up and stood in the companion way. I went aft, made known to him my request, when he replied, “I have no objection but take care of yourself.”

[Illustration: FIJIAN WOMEN

Wearing “maiden locks” indicating that they are unmarried.]

This admonition was gratefully received, yet I felt by no means alarmed, having spent a great portion of my time on shore among the natives, with whom I was on terms of perfect friendship and good will, a circumstance well known to the Capt. or I should probably have received at once from him a denial of my wish to be absent from the ship on such an occasion.

I went down to my chest and brought up a few beads, which I gave to the women in the canoe, telling them I wished to be paddled ashore. They immediately threw their fruits consisting of a few cocoanuts and plantains, through one of the ship’s ports upon deck and considering the beads a compensation for both fruit and passage I was soon on my way to the shore.

I landed upon the beach just ahead of the savages who were coming single file to the village, entering it however by a very circuitous route and in a manner never done except on such occasions.

There were about sixty warriors, though a great many others were in attendance who had joined them while nearing the village.

The bodies of the three dead savages were carried in front, lashed on long poles in a singular manner. They were bound with wythes by bringing the upper and lower parts of the legs together and binding them to the body, and the arms in a similar manner by bringing the elbows to rest on the knees, and their hands tied upon each side of the neck. Their backs were confined to poles which were about twelve feet long. One was lashed on each pole, with six men, three at each end, to carry it.

Those who carried the bodies walked with a limping gait, bending their left knees almost to the ground, but doing it in exact time with the war song they were singing.

They proceeded immediately in front of the Boo-re (a large hut to be used only on public occasions) and threw the dead bodies from their shoulders with the most savage triumph. Two of them were untied from the poles while the third and smallest one, was by the order of the King, sent to some particular friends of his belonging to a neighboring tribe, from whom he had received similar tokens of friendship.

This was a great day at Bona-ra-ra. A day of great rejoicing. This tribe had not only been successful in their attack upon their enemy, but had succeeded in securing the slain. Little credit is given to the warrior who kills his enemies if he does not obtain their bodies; much more is thought of the savage who kills one man and carries him home, than of the individual who may kill a hundred and let their dead bodies fall into the hand of the enemy. Their chief glory consists not so much in killing, as in eating their enemies.

I noticed that a very particular interest was taken in one of the dead savages, and there were none present who talked louder or expressed more vehement gestures, or savage feeling, than an old woman. This matter I could not understand. I asked a young savage who stood near me, what was their particular interest in that man more than the other? He told me that some time previous this tribe had made war with the Andre-getta people, and the son of this old woman was a young chief in the fight and was slain; and it was believed that this individual had killed him. Whether it was so or not, the old woman believed it and the priest believed it, and that was enough for their purpose, for they only wished to wreak their revenge on some savage, though it were a dead one. I had seated myself on the large roots of a cocoanut tree in front of the whole ceremony. After it was satisfactorily settled that this was the savage who had killed the young chief, they proceeded systematically to fill up the measure of their revenge.

This old female savage went to her hut and brought all the property of her late son; such as sleeping mats, tappa, i-fow carlic, angona-dish, and some other little furniture which make up the necessaries of a chief’s dwelling. The angona bowl was placed near the head of the dead savage; a bamboo of water was brought and laid by his side, when several young men after well rinsing their mouths, were employed in chewing and preparing a bowl of angona. After the drink was made ready this old savage after a short speech from the priest, who had continued to make low gutteral sounds and shake himself through the whole ceremony, took her small dish full of the liquor and presenting it to the lips of the dead savage bade him drink. No sooner was this done than a general yell ran through the tribe--“Amba cula boy thu-ie,” he is a stinking dead man. She then dashed the liquor in his face and broke the dish in pieces upon it. She then took up her bamboo of water, and removing the tuft of grass from the end placed it also to the mouth of the dead man and again bade him drink. A repetition of the same ceremony was gone through with, when she poured all the water upon his face and then broke the bamboo in pieces upon his head, and told the men to take it to cut him up with. Bamboo, split to a sharp edge was called by them isulic (a term applied to knife), which instrument alone they allowed themselves to use in cutting to pieces a dead body.

The old woman had now gone her way knowing that her orders would be executed, and well aware of the strict prohibition against her, or any of her sex either to assist in preparing, or eating human flesh.

The head of the savage on whom this ceremony commenced was first cut off and laid aside, then the furniture that was brought by the old woman was broken up and placed around it; and fire set to it so that the whole was entirely consumed about the head, and rendered thereby in a fit state for cleansing; the hair being burnt off and the flesh so singed that it was scraped perfectly white.

As soon as this affair was ended a dance commenced as is customary on all such occasions. All the warriors who were engaged in the fight, and some aged men who staid at home, had now prepared themselves for this savage expression of joy. The Fejeeians wear but little clothing on ordinary occasions and on this they were in a state of complete nudity. They were painted in a most frightful manner, as great a diversity of painting, or marking was observed by them as could be devised, each one attempting to outdo the other in the most loathsome obscenity and savage appearance. They use but three kinds of paint upon their bodies which are black, red, and yellow. The black is made from a small nut which grows upon the ground, it is burnt to a coal and pounded up between flat stones, and prepared by mixing it with cocoanut oil. The red and yellow paint used by them is a mineral similar to our ochre, if not precisely the same in substance. The yellow is held by them in high estimation. It is mixed with cocoanut oil, scented with sandalwood and fragrant herbs, and is the first dressing received by the new born infant. It is called by them re-ringer.

There were about one hundred dancers who came upon the ground at one and the same time with terrific yells. Their dance was made up of the most violent and distended motion of the limbs, often prostrating themselves on the ground upon their backs, and springing again instantly to their places, without however for a moment ceasing to chant their war song in a very low but distinct manner. Their only instrumental music on this occasion was that of two savages beating upon the end of a hollow log four or six feet in length, which is always heard on such occasions, and also as an alarm for war.

Within the ring of dancers had the old woman’s command been promptly executed.

They commenced in their usual systematic way of cutting up a dead body. The heads of both savages being now taken off, they next cut off the right hand and the left foot, right elbow and left knee, and so in like manner until all the limbs separated from the body.

An oblong piece was then taken from the body commencing at the bottom of the chest and passing downwards about eight inches, and three or four inches wide at its broadest part. This was carefully laid aside for the King, it being strictly prohibited for anyone else to eat of it.

The entrails and vitals were then taken out and cleansed for cooking. But I shall not here particularize. The scene is too revolting. The flesh was then cut through the ribs to the spine of the back which was broken, thus the body was separated into two pieces. This was truly a sickening sight. I saw after they had cut through the ribs of the stoutest man, a savage jump upon the back, one end of which rested upon the ground, and the other was held in the hands and rested upon the knees of another savage, three times before he succeeded in breaking it.

This ended the dissection of the bodies.

While this was going on, the lobu or oven was prepared which was made as follows. An excavation is made in the earth of a concave form about six feet in diameter and a foot and a half deep in the centre, and smoothly lined with small stones. A large fire is then made in it, with small stones placed among the burning fuel for the purpose of heating them, and as the bodies are cut to pieces they are thrown upon the fire, which after being thoroughly singed are scraped while hot by savages, who sit around the fire for this purpose. The skin by this process is made perfectly white, this being the manner in which they dress their hogs, and other animal food.

To show their excessive greediness for human flesh, and their savage thirst for blood, I need only to relate a particular circumstance which took place at the time. The head of the savage which was last taken off, was thrown towards the fire, and being thrown some distance it rolled a few feet from the men who were employed around it; when it was stolen by one of the savages who carried it behind the tree where I was sitting. He took the head in his lap and after combing away the hair from the top of it with his fingers picked out the pieces of the scull which was broken by the war club and commenced eating the brains. This was too much for me. I moved my position, the thief was discovered and was as soon compelled to give up his booty, it being considered by the others he had got by far too great a share.

The process of cleansing and preparing this flesh, occupied about two hours. There was no part of these bodies which I did not see cleansed and put in the oven.

The stones which had been placed upon the fire, were now removed, the oven cleaned out, the flesh carefully and very neatly wrapped in fresh plantain leaves, and placed in it. The hot stones were also wrapped in leaves and placed among the flesh, and after it was all deposited in the oven, it was covered up two or three inches with the same kind of leaves, and the whole covered up with earth of sufficient depth to retain the heat.

It was now about sunset; the oven was completely covered, and a new dance commenced around it, which continued for some time. I ascertained by the natives, that it would be past midnight before they would open their oven, and being desirous of seeing the end of this affair, and recollecting that I had no anchor watch to stand that night, I resolved to go to the beche-le-mer house which was on the opposite side of the village, and spend part of the night, caring only to get on board the ship the next morning in season to turn to with all hands, in washing the decks. I therefore proceeded on my way across the village, when I met with Sina-beatee, a chief with whom I was well acquainted, who asked me to go with him to his hut, and take something to eat. I followed my host to his cabin, and made a good supper, after which I left him and renewed my way across the village to the ship’s house.