The National tribune., 1891-01-22

| Jewish type or nose, the moderate stature, and
| disproportionatey slender limbs are here found
as in the larger island"
ENTHUSIASTICALLY,
| also, the same connection holds, although their
numerous dialects have been largely corrupted
| by Malay intermixture. This latter fact re-
! mains rs the only conspicuous and permanent
record of long war OF races which was FORM
| erly waged between the aforementioned people
! and Melanesians. In this the latter finally
conquered, and TO n great extent expelled their
invaders. The prolonged contact also accounts
for those considerable variations from the
bodily features Just detailed, which occur in
many parts OF the province spoken OF.
For the most part water and eocoanut milk
are their only drinks, bat POlynesan kava was
introduced into Tanna, and the stimulant is
greatly abused. On tho coast, owing TO out
side influences cannbAlism has now ceased.
Inland, however, human bodies, roasted with
vans, are still looked upon as delicacies, and
here as among other anthropophagous tribes,
natives are preferred to foreigners. ConnOis-
seurs in this kind Of food say that savage flesh
is much swceter and more tender than that OF
civilized men.
breech cloth of bark or she'll apron, and a
short kilt for married women (who knock out
their front teeth) forms the only clothing of
these people, which is manufactured by them
selves. They generally paint their skins, dye
their noses, and mutilate their ears, but tattoo
ing Is very rarely practiced. The beard is
plated after the ancient Assyrian fashion, and
they put on their heads, necks, aud limbs all
the bright-colored shells and feathers that can
be procured, together with pieces of human
bone. whale and human teeth, and fllets OF
plated fiber, etc.
Architectural works range from matched
hut, whose uprights are rudely wattled with
sticks and grass, to wooden residences with
ornamental fronts, and posts carved into the
likenesses OF men standing with folded arms,
The council-hOuses, forming the center OF large
villages are of equally good construction, aud
100 feet long by 30 wide. From first to last these
edifces are adorned with skulls and fragments
Of the skeletons Of their victims.
Furniture, properly so called. does not ex-
ist, but their nets Of cocoa fbers are we'll
made, and stone axes and pronged hsh-spears
effective. The whole male population is always
armed with bows six feet long, and arrows
tipped with
VEGETABLE POISON,
to which they add spears projected by throw
ing-stick like that of tho Australians. and a
blowgun whose darts are likewise envenomed.
Most of what has been said of sayages in
general strictly applies to these in particular.
They despise and ill-treat their women, look
upon rs the highest occupation for a man,
make the obligation of blood revenge an essen
tial principle Of morality, foster callousness
cruelty and violence as virtues, are incapable
of foresight or abstraction, believe that they
themselves incarnate the most elevated char
aeter to which humanity eau attain, feel little
rational curiosity, have but small self-eontrol
and no idea of altruism, think everything I'M
usual is supernatural, project their self-concep-
lions into nature as explanations Of Its pho
nomena, and worship no god who concenters
in himself the order, benefcence and beauty Of
the world.
Like most men in a similar phase Of develop
ment they seize upon every occasion for an
orgy, and as there is but little opportunity for
enjoying tho pleasures of intoxieation, they
shout and dance until exhausted, and then eat
themselves into stupOr.
II kava can be procured they drink until
frenzy and vOciferation have produced like
result and when from this or some other form
Of disregard for hygienic laws illness occurs,
they provide number of persons with eoneh-
shells and 60 out into the woods TO Brighten
away the sickness causcr by making noise.
To them disease is produced by magic. and
medicines and remedial processes of all kinds
are charms and death an unnatural eatastrOphy
brought about through the enmity Of a ghost,
wizard or demon.
When common man dies his friends and
relatives wrap the body in bark, paint his face
red and bury him. IL the deceased be chief,
il is often the case that all his wives are mas
sacred in order that they Iuay attend him in
the tObacco-smokiug, hreadfruit eating, kava
drinking heaven Of the west, TO which he goes
in virtue OF his rank. and because his funeral
ceremonies have been property performed.
Gods are numerous in the theology of these
islanders. They have diYinities for every oe-
eupation, time and place. as hunting, fishing
for rivers and springs, for seasons aud even
for meal times. The sun and moon are also
included in the list. Thetabu which is so uni
versal among the Polynesians, exists here with
its full significance"