Admiral Krusenstern of the Russian Navy, who visited the Marquesas, gives substantial reasons pointing to the belief that cannibalism prevailed here before the arrival of any missionaries. It is related that a captive child almost famished with hunger, on begging some food of the savages received a piece of her own father’s flesh.
Another visitor, whose name does not appear in his book, mentions that he saw a human head with the eyes scooped out, presented on a bread fruit leaf to the king, who held his mouth open the moment this factitious dish was offered.
As the inhabitants of the lone waters of the Pacific have lately discovered the error of their ways, and ascertained that a coat of tattoo and a cotton umbrella are scarcely wardrobe sufficient to satisfy the wants of trans-pacific civilization, there should be no desire to rake up their old failings. Still there is no escaping the fact repeatedly vouched for by natives of other islands, and voyagers who have visited them, that in times of famine the men butchered their wives, children and aged parents, stewed their flesh and devoured it seemingly with no little satisfaction.
The religious belief of the Fijii apportioned merely the souls of their human victims to the gods, who were thought to be enormous eaters; while the fleshy parts were consumed by the worshipers. In verity cannibalism was a part of the Fijiian religion, and although their gods were supposed to delight in human flesh, still the horrors of Fijiian anthropophagy were attributable more to sensual gratification than to any devout motive. The Fijiians were of the opinion that many of the gods resided in or are personified by particular animals, such as rats, sharks, dogs, and even the human person. Accordingly, he whose particular guardian-god dwelt in any one of these animals, refrained from eating the flesh of the same, lest he might offend his divinity. Again, from some motive—selfish or superstitious—no female children were allowed to eat human flesh. Every significant event among them was celebrated by a feast of human flesh, and this diet was considered so important that a wooden fork was used to convey it to the mouth, instead of the fingers, as in partaking of other kinds of food.
Williams, who visited these islands and wrote a volume referring to the habits and practices of these natives, observes that these savages gratified their cannibalistic appetites to an enormous extent, and they were particularly careful that no sailor lucklessly cast upon their shores should escape their attention and final disposition.
Human bones constituted part of the furniture of their houses, and human hair was used as an ornament in most of their implements of war. The European missionaries who have lived on the islands declare that these people devoured most of the bodies of the slain; and though implicit dependence cannot always be placed on the tales of seamen, it is well to remember that Longsdorf was told by a Frenchman who had resided on one of the islands, that the priests often regaled themselves on human flesh simply from the pleasure derived from its use. At this hour they act as if under the influence of inspiration, and after various contortions of the body, appear to fall asleep. On awakening they relate what the spirit has declared to them in their dreams. The communication made known sometimes is that a woman or a man, a tattooed or an untattooed man, a fat or lean man, an old man or a young man from the next valley or border of the next stream, must be seized and brought to them. Those to whom this revelation comes immediately conceal themselves near a footpath or river, and the first passer-by bearing any resemblance to the description given, is taken and eaten by the priests.
An account of the principal islands of the South Sea left by a missionary named Russell, relates that the charge of cannibalism brought against these remote islanders is not without foundation. A war broke out between two of the islands of the group; the Chichias, who were the victors, resolved to signalize their triumph by a great feast. After the usual dancing, the chief gave orders to bring forward the supplies. Immediately the natives advanced two and two, each couple bearing on their shoulders a man barbecued like a pig. As the chief sat on the ground, surrounded by his warriors, the bodies in regular order were deposited before him. They numbered more than two hundred; and when the actual count was publicly announced the assembly gave expression to the greatest satisfaction. Skillful carvers at once cut up the parts dedicated to a particular god, which were reserved for the sacred ceremonies; the remainder was duly apportioned to the anxious and hungry attendants. Although these many captives were offered as sacrifices, in conformity with the ancient religious customs of the tribe; still it is to be remembered that chiefs, warriors, and even the less ferocious members of the company, regaled themselves in royal style on this unnatural food.
In the southern extremity of South America on the shores of the island which form Cape Horn are the Terra del Fuegians, and although they occupy this remote extremity of the American continent, in some respects, particularly in stature, they are like the hyperboreans of the distant north. In form the Fuegians are dwarfish or stunted. Their lower jaws project, the long, straight, black hair hangs down their backs, and in general appearance are repulsive and brutish. Experience has shown them to be savage and deceitful in the extreme. They have been known to have killed the crews of several vessels wrecked on their coasts. Cannibalism prevails also among them, and in times of great scarcity they will feed upon their aged relations, rather than sacrifice and consume their fish-hunting dogs. Though their method of reasoning may be logical, still it is extremely coldblooded, as they say that while the one is merely an incumbrance the other can at worst provide for his own maintenance. As a rule these people eat only the extremity of their friends or foes, and unless pressed for food, owing to certain superstitions among them, will throw the trunk into the sea.
Fitzroy remarks concerning the natives in Terra del Fuego that when they are threatened with starvation, as they sometimes are in the winter season, they will throttle and devour the oldest woman into whose body they can get their teeth. When asked why, when want visited them, they did not kill their dogs, they replied, “Dog catch otter.”
Hakluyt gives Verazzanos’ own account of an expedition made by him to America in 1524. He sailed in a vessel called the Dauphin to the new world, and discovered upwards of 700 leagues of the North American coast. The next year, Hinton says, he made a second voyage, the records of which are equally brief and fatal. Landing on an unfriendly shore with some of the crew, he was seized by the savages, killed and devoured in the presence of their companions on board, who sought in vain to render assistance.