Page 453 - Melanesia

HISTORY OF CANNIBALISM

Like New Guinea and its neighbour Vanuatu analysis one notes that many stories are accusa- strong and were feared throughout this corner of
to the South East, the people of the Solomon tions against neighboring groups or attempts to the Pacific. Under the guidance of the local chief,
war canoes (tomoko) were prepared which could
Islands are Melanesians, characterized by frizzy scandalize gullible Europeans. Early missionaries seat 50 or 60 warriors and capable of crossing
large stretches of open sea in search of skulls and
hair like sheep’s wool. Unlike straight-haired reported cannibalism on Nggela as a recent in- slaves. The people were animist by belief, mean-
ing that their lives were controlled by the spirits
Polynesians who speak basically the same troduction from further west, and coastal people of their dead ancestors. The male skulls (the
slaves collected were women & children) had
language throughout the triangle from Tahiti from Isabel reported cannibalism by inland a value for earthly power for the chief and also
for a guarantee of passage into the next life. The
to Hawaii to New Zealand, Melanesians speak a groups. The people of Makira certainly seem to value of skulls was as follows, in ascending order:
pig, child, man, warrior, chief, white man.
mind-numbing variety of mutually incompre- have practiced cannibalism: professional fighters
The first Governor General (Woodford), who
hensible languages. For instance, in Papua New would provide a corpse for a feast for a fee. established the British Protectorate in 1902,
was determined to stamp out the practice, but
Guinea there are roughly 800 separate languages In the early 1800’s, British whaling ships moved he died before this was achieved. The Rev John
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean Goldie was also keen to stop head hunting, but
- not just dialects, but languages so different after nearly 30 years of preaching and persuad-
that people in one valley cannot understand the ing, he too was unsuccessful. Finally the British
navy achieved what the politicians and mission-
speech of people in the next valley. In part, this as the U.S.A developed. In so doing, they came aries had failed to do, despite their best efforts.

situation arose because of the cannibalism which across many of the islands in south-east Asia

was endemic throughout the Pacific - meeting and the Pacific, including the Solomon Islands.

strangers, let alone speaking to them, was a risky In those days, the people of the Solomon Islands

proposition. built their canoes and houses with sharp stones

Cannibalism never was universal but peculiar as they did not have metal for knives. The British
to certain districts. Nor was it practiced for sailors on the ships traded knives & axes for sup-
plies and favors from the local people.

the sake of eating flesh, but a mark of extremist Those tribes that were quick to trade gained
vengeance, and to absorb the “mana” not only the advantage over their neighbors. In this
of the one eaten, but also of a tribe. Sacrificial

cannibalism of enemies was not unknown but on way the tribes from the Roviana area became