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Thu 13 Nov, 2003 09:46 am
NABUTAUTAU, Fiji - Villagers in a remote Fijian community staged an elaborate ceremony of apology Thursday for the relatives of a British missionary killed and eaten here 136 years ago.
The Rev. Thomas Baker and eight Fijian followers were killed and devoured by cannibals in 1867 in the village of Nabutautau, high in the hills of the South Pacific island of Viti Levu. Residents say their community has been cursed ever since.
In a mixture of ancient pagan and modern Christian rites, the villagers have staged a series of ceremonies hoping to erase the misfortunes they believe have kept them poor.
The rituals ?- which started about a month ago ?- culminated Thursday with the offering of cows, specially woven mats and 30 carved sperm-whale teeth known as tabua to 10 Australian descendants of Baker.
"This is our third apology but, unlike the first two, this one is being offered physically to the family of Mr. Baker," Ratu Filimoni Nawawabalavu, the village's chief, told The Associated Press.
The cute, skinny cowboy has waaaay too much time on his hands. :wink:
Good on 'em. Fijian cannibalism was legendary in it's day, mostly because they did it for pure fun. Fijian culture at the time was once described as "a pure culture of the death instinct." Interestingly, women were eaten raw, and men were eaten cooked. Cooked men were considered more valuable, and trade often took place between tribes. Bottom line, they did it because they liked it. I really am against Imperialism, but this is one culture I am happy was "civilized". They were among one of the last outposts of cannibalism in relatively recent history. Now, if you don't mind, I am off to enjoy some liver, and a nice Chianti.
Diane
Diane, well you know what to do about that, don't you. Just lose your black habit and get a thong.
BBB
Hah, hah, hah, BBB. Yes, he is one of my favorite 'habits.'
He also does most of the cooking!
Sorry, we'd like to apologize for apologizing. We feel our first apology wasn't apologetic enough and the second apology, well we'd like to deny that apology and extend an olive branch to the family, so sorry. Sorry about all the apologies but we must get it right, apology accepted? Sorry...
Well-heated man it is then for Gautam. Who wants raw lady?
I ain't no lady... I cook all by myself!
Dys
Dys, please forgive me, I couldn't control myself.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/cannibal.asp
dys, ha ha ha Thats nasty!
Glad to see they offered cows to erase their karmic debt.
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