Who is King Malietoa? What is unusual about the King? Why did Slocum offer payment to the King?

Slocum paid a visit to King Malietoa, a well educated man who served as the island's ruler. King Malietoa was unusual in that his title was officially King of the Cannibals. Slocum found the title interesting, particularly since no one on the island had eaten a missionary in more than 100 years. Slocum was given the task of offering payment to the King from the publishers of the Missionary Review.