island, a great difference was perceptible between them and those of the other islands, as well in respect to their appearance, as in character. Their features were regular, and by some thought handsome; they had fine teeth, with glossy black hair, flowing in ringlets about their heads; they were also of a lighter colour than the rest of the natives with whom they are grouped; their figures are, for the most part, rotund, and they seem to have an abundance of food to become fat upon. In walking, they appeared like a moving mass of jelly; every laugh set not only their sides in motion, but their whole frame. and flesh. On being asked how these people became so fat, Wood replied, they had plenty of food and "toddy" to fatten upon: this last a syrup, called by the natives "karaca," made from the sap of the young cocoa-nut trees: of this they drink immoderately. They wear mustaches and whiskers, which are highly prized and carefully nursed among them. They had a good-humoured cast of countenance, and seemed peaceable and full of kindness. No scars were seen on their bodies, neither had they any warlike instruments with them. All the little casualties which so often affected the harmony of the natives before, here produced no sort of disturbance; and each was inclined to render the other assistance in repairing the accidents. is NATIVE OF MAKIN ISLAND. The men are very handsomely tattooed, of which the above cut will give a correct idea. On their reaching the ship, they appeared to put the fullest confidence and reliance in the treatment they were to receive, although, according to Wood, they had seen but one vessel during his residence on the island, and consequently it could not be from the habit of intercourse, but must have been a natural feeling. There was no begging, no attempt to steal, as among all the other natives of the group; but Wood gives them credit for the latter propensity among themselves on shore. Their canoes are larger and better built than those of the southern islands, and made of different wood; and they are better supplied with masts and paddles, but still of nearly the same shape: the side of the canoe opposite to the out-rigger, was much less curved than the other, resembling more the "flying proa" of the Ladrone Islands. Polygamy is common among them; and Wood stated that some of the principal chiefs and landholders have from twenty to fifty wives: the king even exceeded this number; while the poorer class and slaves are doomed to perpetual celibacy. The consequences of this state of society may readily be imagined to produce illicit intercourse among the lower classes. The women are well treated; never offered for traffic, but on the contrary, are held sacred; and in order to restrain any unlawful indulgence on the part of his wives, his majesty has at times had some of them sewed up in mats! Wood represented the women as outnumbering the men, and said they were very handsome. There are five towns on the island, which, according to the authority of Wood, contain about five thousand inhabitants. The king, whose name was Tekere, came off to the ship. He was a fine-looking man; but his corpulency was great, and appeared to trouble him not a little: it was utterly impossible for him to get up the side of the ship, and he therefore contented himself with being paddled round it. His father, the former king, Jakintebuat, came on board, with several of his sons, all of whom had a strong family likeness. He appeared about sixty years old; and although a little bald, he had no other appearance of age, either in his looks or the firmness of his step. the When the vessels had made sail, in order to leave the island, and it was supposed that all the natives had left the ship, one was found hanging to the man-ropes near the water. Wood, on questioning the native, found that he was a petty chief, who wished to accompany ship, and had taken this means of doing it, hoping not to be perceived until he was out of sight of his island. He said he was too poor a chief to have any wives, and therefore wished to leave his island, and be landed on some other, where he could obtain some. Captain Hud son had a boat lowered at once, by which he was put on board a canoe, that took him to the shore. Two or three of the officers landed for a short time, but saw nothing except a few fishing huts. Under the eaves of the huts, large shells of the Tridachna gigas were placed to catch water. The entrance into the lagoon has four and a half fathoms of water, and is about one-third of a mile in width. Mr. Peale found no quadrupeds except rats, which were in great plenty, and running in all directions; of birds there were but few; white terns and noddies were seen in the groves, and a few moths were caught. 1 Mr. Rich found some tall Pisonias, Tournefortias, two species of Urtica, a Boerhaavia, and some cocoa-nuts. On the larger island they seem to have a much greater variety of trees, but it was not visited. They have bread-fruit, taro, and yams of two kinds, which are culti vated in the manner already described. CHAPTER III. CONTENTS. SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN RELATION TO THE KINGSMILL GROUP-ISLANDS OF - POPULATION G2 THEIR (77) |