mangled and eaten while alive. The following extraordinary
account, which we extract from a letter of Sir Stamford Raffles to Mr.
Marsden himself, dated February 27, 1820, is sufficiently revolting; but
it is important as showing the wonderful influence of ancient customs in
hardening the hearts of an otherwise mild and respectable people, and is
therefore calculated to make us look with less severity upon the
practices of the more ignorant New Zealanders. The progress of knowledge
and of true religion can alone eradicate such fearful relics of a
tremendous superstition--the offering, in another shape, to

Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice.

I have found all you say on the subject of cannibalism more than
confirmed. I do not think you have even gone far enough. You
might have broadly stated, that it is the practice, not only to
eat the victim, but to eat him alive. I shall pass over the
particulars of all previous information which I have received,
and endeavour to give you, in a few words, the result of a
deliberate inquiry from the Batta chiefs of Tappanooly. I caused
the most intelligent to be assembled; and in the presence of Mr.
Prince and Dr. Jack, obtained the following information, of the
truth of which none of us have the least doubt. It is the
universal and standing law of the Battas, that death by eating
shall be inflicted in the following cases:--Adultery; midnight
robbery; wars of importance, that is to say, one district against
another, the prisoners are sacrificed; intermarrying in the same
tribe, which is forbidden from the circumstance of their having
ancestors in common; treacherous attacks on a house, village, or
person. In all the above cases it is lawful for the victims to be
eaten, and they are eaten alive, that is to say, they are not
previously put to death. The victim is tied to a stake, with his
arms extended, the party collect in a circle around him, and the
chief gives the order to commence eating. The chief enemy, when
it is a prisoner, or the chief party injured in other cases, has
the first selection; and after he has cut off his slice, others
cut off pieces according to their taste and fancy, until all the
flesh is devoured. It is either eaten raw or grilled, and
generally dipped in sambul (a preparation of Chili pepper and