The first two options have all the same letters, just differently arranged - so I couldn't see why one was better than the other! The last option has a slightly different assortment of letters. I'll keep mulling.
Thanks, that sounds good - but it also gives both of the first options! (And both of these can be the cannibals.) Chambers doesn't have any of these words.
Mamya, I did/do appreciate your help - my grumbling was more at the thought of there being two, apparently equally correct, answers to a clue. This, fortunately, doesn't happen very often.