Butte record., 1853-11-26

above the elbows, &c.
The natives of this group are not less
addicted to the revolving practice of can
nibalism than their neighbors. War is
less frequent among them than on the
Islands where a more democratic form
of government prevails; but when it does
occur 1t is of a much more serious char
acter, involving, not two or more small
districts, but whole island or islands.
This is one disadvantage that ARISES
from so large an extent of territory be-
ing subject to one chief.
The houses are very superior to those
of the neighboring islanders, and they
are the same all over the group. Some
Of them that have seen are not inferior
to the general run of native houses in
Eastern Polynesia, and they are palaces
compared with the wretched huts Of the
New Hebridez.
Their canoes also are quite in keeping
with their houses; they are very superb
or for people in their state; they are
double. Two large single canoes, 80,
or 40, or more feet long, are fixed to
gether by means of transverse spars;
over these planks are laid and made fast;
these form a deck, on which house is
erected, which affords shelter. In the
house is hearth, on which they kindle
fire for cooking, or any other purpose
for which they want IL They use a
large sail made Of mating, and with a
good breze and moderate sea, their
vessels sail very well. They are awk-
ward and unmanageable. however, in
rough weather, and there is no small dan
ger IN ventureing any considerable dis
tance III them. The Tongas, Friendly
Islanders, have similar canoes. Their
large and compare lively commodious yes
sels are temptation to them to attempt
much longer voyages than their neigh
bors who have single canoes, and the
consequence Is, that a much greater NUM-
Der Of them get lost at sea, or are car
ried away to strange lands, than the less
adventurous tribes Of other groups. We
have found Friendly Islanders in every
part Of Western Polynesia to which We
have yet gone; and it remains to be as
certalned to how many other islands they
have found their way. Highly important
results howeyer, have arrisen from this,
as We shall see hereafter Whether the
New Caledonians have got dispersed in q
similar way, We do not al present know
Their canoes viii carry thirty, forty,
fifty, or more persons. When it is re-
meInbered that they are made without
any iron fastenings, and that till within
few years the natives had no iron tools,
one cannot think meanly Of their inge-
nuity and perseverance.
They do not, ike the Tanese and
others, throw the dead into the se., but
deposit them in the earth. Like all hea-
then nations, they mourn as those who
have no hope. They danb themselves
over with mud in token Of mourning,
and give violent and extravagant express
sion TO their grief, which, however, soon
subsidies, They make offerings and rem
der a sort of homage to their deceased
ancestors. On all great occasions, offer
ings with prayers and thanksgivings, are
presented to these There is a class Of
persons who oficiate on these occasions.
The offerings consist entirely of vegeta-
bic food. Il Is cooked in the neighbor-
hood Of the grave, and nart of it, accor-
ding to the Chinese custom, IS presen-
ted to the occupant of the marrow house
accompanied with prayers and thanks
givings. The food thus presented is left
to decompose.
Their worship is not confined to hu-
man spirits; they believe in the exis-
tenee of beings superior to these. The
people Of the Isle of Piees have four
principal deities, and the same probably
are believed in and worshiped on the 9TH
er islands. Our information on these
points, however, is very limited.
As regards the population Of the
group, We are not in circumstances to
speak positively. Cook says, speaking
of the parts he visited, Although the
inhabitants of the whole may not be nu-
merous, the island Is not thinly peopled
on the sea coast, and the plains and val
leys that are capable of cultivation. >
Cook was Of opinion, however, and he
was probably right, that the population
of the large island was comparatively
small That of the smaller islands is
doubtless much greater in proportion to
their size. Many parts of these we know
are thickly peopled. We do not know