an article on Piracy in the Indian Archipelago, the Zndier of the 29th Devembor, appears based on official documents lately published, which show the nature and extent of that evil during the year 1858; from this article, the following extract is made:—" One of the most interesting pieces of information contained in these official documents bears upon a set of pirates of the worst kind, whose existence was unknown until 1858. In the summing up of the documents, we read:—Besides what has Veen noticed above, there has been received from the Governor of Celebes, as a continuation to the reports already published of expeditions and cruises performed in 1858, 2 declaration which furnished positive proofs of the existence of a kind of pirates hitherto unknown, who have made their appearance for a series and horrible purpose of fattening and eating of years in increasing strength, in the Archipethe captives they make. As far as is known, Jago and, above all, on the coast of Celebes to this is the first declaration made on the sub-the north of Macassar. Anative named Lakabi, ject: probably, the hitherto unknown nature who escaped out of their hands by swimming, of the existence of these cannibals is owing to three years amongst them and supplies their custom of eating their captives. They the most positive information as to their abo-touch at no inhabited places, and yearly pirate minable customs. They are Papuans of the about the month of June in the waters belowest grade of civilisation, who carry on man tween Ujong Lora and Cape Mandhar. This stealing with no other object apparently than abominable band has thus found a home int that of fattening and eating up the unfortu-our possessions." The Jndier asks whether the nates who fall into their hands. Cannibals in Government has taken effective measures the worst sense of the word, such as are only against these monsters, and adds that in the met with amongst the wild races of the South official documents nothing more is said on the Sea islands, who have not hesitated to show subject than what appears above. themselves for years in the most frequented portions of the Indian Archipelago, and have as yet escaped from the avenging arm of the Netherlands Government, The Governor of the Molucca Islands states that, although at (San Francisco News Letter.) the time of Lakabi's declaration, the name of the place from the headman under whose rule Whatever may be said about Kamehameh: they are did not tally with information obthe Fifth as supporting his regal dignity, one tained, no doubts exist that they came from thing eat not be denied, that he came New Guinea and dwell probably at Tulloh royal stock. By royal, we mean that quality Berow Bay, the deep entrance to which forms which caused the children of Israel to elect part of the most unknown portions of that Saul as their king because he overtopped the island. Tt is extremely necessary that farther nation by a head and shoulders. Old Kame-inquiries be made so as to ensure certainty on hamelia the First, who united the group of this point, so that these horrible monsters islands under one sovereignty, was of immense may be attacked and destroyed in their lurk-stature and strength, at thie same time syming places. The information furnished by La-metrical in form, joined to mental quali habi will be very usefal in case of an expedi-that fit man to bea ruler. Prior to his action being made into those districts. cession, each island possessed its individual The declaration of Lakabi runs as follows:—king, and predatory warfare was rife amon; Lakabi, a native of Macassar, escaped from them. Now, the last of the line is dead an the Sea rovers by springing overboard when the throne is vacant. To us, accustomed to their prabu Tay at anchor at Tonra Balana, ard our immense territory, and to Euro-He was on a voyage from Macassar to Mon-peans, with their glittering courts and stand-that, when he was attacked by a piratical pratiu." During the Gght which fetlowed, two ing armies, the spectacle of a dark-skinned. sovereign of a cluster of small islands, whose of the crew of his prahu were killed: he him. inhabitants have but lately emerged from the self and the survivors (11 in number) were simplicity of savage life, and who, thanks to made prisoners, The pirates had only one civilization, missionaries and rum, are rapidly prabu bintak; the armament of the latter decreasing in numbers, presents an aspect suf sisted of 20 muskets, 3 lillas, besides javel ciently ridiculous; but the natives looked up and long knives; the pirates were well pr with as much reverence to their king as the vided with powder and lead. The commander Englishman to Victoria o the Russian peasant of the piratical pralu was usually styled Toei, to the Czar, The question now arises, what The pirates were from Papua; the name of is to become of the Sandwich Islands? We the village near which they usually landed there, was Litting. The piratical prahu was do not expect an answer to the problem until much diplomacy has been exercised and red fitted out by a Papuan Chief, Arabi by name.
Labaki and one Supu were' the youngest of tape most profusely Drought into use, Eng-and and France have always assumed a pr the captives and were not bound. hi tectorate over the Islands, guaranteeing their had a Koran with him and gave lessons from it, toSupu. When the piratical chief perceived integrity simply to prevent their annexation this he appointed Lakabi teacher to his child, by a e United States or by Russia, America claims them as hers on account of geographic who continued to act as such until his escape. cal position, yet Eastern Asia, which exceeds Shortly afterwards, Supa and two others the Ouited' States in population, might, with were, during the voyage, strangled on board equal justice, urge the same claim. Russia the bodies were afterwards put on a gridiron has also a coast line onthe Pacific, and her over a fire; when the bodies were half cooked, possessions are almost as near the Sandwich they were taken off the gridiron; the sto-Islands as California. England may. say machs were then cut open, and the coagula-that when her continental railroad is built, ted blood taken out, divided into portions, her steamers will ply to Japan, China, Now and consumed. The' inside of bodies having Zealand and Australia; that she also will been cleared, the latter were put on the fire require a coaling station, which alone can again and, when cooked,. cut to pieces and advantageously furnished by Honolulu. Yor eaten up.' After their arrival at Papua, all it will not do for America to. take. Ca, and the captives except Lakabi underwent the England to be content with Mani and Russia same fate successively: it appeared from the to annex Hawaii, for the simple reason that multitude of bones lying about, that many had'
Honolulu is the only harbor where a vessel been slaughtered before. After they had eapcan enter and ride with safety, and that partly tured the prabu, the pirates returned imowing to artificial works, such' as the con-mediately to Papua which they reached struction of a breakwater and removal of within 10 day habi made several expedi-coral reefs. The Bay of Lahaina is too shaltions along with them, which sometimes lasted low and exposed; the harbor of Bilo is too days and sometimes months, in company with iron-bound and tempestuous, so that at the from 2 tu 8 vessels. They were more than Forte great powers either to continue. the resent moment the only thing appears to be once in the waters of Celebes, where he was present at the capture of a prahu from Bona-the present mimic monarchy, or to come to an Tate, on which occasion 15 persons were amicable arrangement declaring the port of made prisoners; all those prisoners were Honolulu neutral and free to the ships of all successively stranged and eaten. The nations, at the same time establishing a form pralus took in supplies of water at un-of government in which representatives of all inhabited islands in the neighbourhood of nations shall take part and regulate the in-Coram, and were cleaned at Papua. On the ternal economy of the Hawaiian group. For, return voyage, uninhabited places were again not only geographically, but commercially, touched at, the names of which are not known the Sandwich Islands have become important, him. The piratical prahus were fitted out The export of coffee, sugar, molasses, rice, agaaily pat to seo at tie beginning of the by a certain Rajah, Hersi by name. They even of wood, have steadily increased, with only the exception of coffee, which cannot Monsoon. When they meet with one another compete with Rio and Manilla. The passenger their relations are friendly: on such occasions, trafic is considerable, and will be greater human beings are strangled and eaten. when the new line of steamers is thoroughly The foregoing is an important declaration organized. At the present moment a naval which, though plainly inaccurate in certain force under various flags is hastening to the points, is undoubtedly trae in the main, and scene of operations, for there are many bold proves thatatCeram orononeof theisiands near and unscrupulous men who would not hesitate it there exists a population of Papuans who, to attempt to seize the reins of government wholly on their own account, curry on piracy and place on their heads the empty crown of or rather man stealing at sea with the definite King Kamehameha the Fifth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.