DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 7 



has disappeared, with the exception of a double row of large upright 

 stones, like those of Stonehenge, which define the sacred mound on 

 which it stood. The ground in the centre is now converted into a burial 

 place for strangers, and all feeling of sanctity appears to have passed 

 away, not only from this, but from all the other temples, — those that 

 remain being used as dwelling-houses. It is remarkable, indeed, how 

 instantaneously the change from reverence to profanation takes place at 

 Feejee. A man will sell, for a couple of yards of calico, the sacred vessels 

 or images of a temple, which, up to the previous day, he would probably 

 have defended with his life, and certainly would not have profaned for 

 any consideration. So, too, with respect to cannibalism. The last feast 

 that took place in Eau occurred only ten days before the chief or king, 

 with 300 of his people, renounced heathenism. At this feast many 

 bodies were eaten, and it presented all the usual atrocities of old times. 

 It seemed to be a sort of farewell jollification, as well as a farewell offering 

 to the gods, — for all these temple feasts bear something of the character 

 of a religious observance. 



I heard many stories of atrocities connected with cannibalism, but 

 they were not of very recent date ; it must not, however, be supposed 

 that cannibalism has ceased. On the contrary, it still prevails, and is 

 likely to continue, wherever it has not been overthrown by Christianity. 

 Whilst I was at JSTandy, in Yanna Leon, two instances occurred close to 

 the mission-house. I did not witness the fact, but the missionary 

 (according to his usual custom), went to the place to reason with the 

 natives, and to persuade them to give up the bodies for burial. In one 

 case he was partially successful, the remains of the feast having been 

 given up ; but in the other the savages laughed him to scorn, and con- 

 tinued eating the flesh in his presence. It is rarely, however, that a 

 Feejeean will be guilty of such rudeness. He knows our detestation of 

 the practice of eating human flesh, and he generally humours it by in- 

 dulging iu private. You would not suppose that the polite, jocose, and, 

 perhaps, hospitable native you were conversing with was a murderer 

 and man-eater, but it is often so. I paid a visit to Tui Wainunu, the 

 principal chief over a large district, and who is a noted cannibal, of whom 

 most appalling stories are told. I was anxious to procure specimens of 

 a tree which was only found on his property, and for this purpose paid 

 him a visit. I went with the captain in the ship's barge, the distance 

 from where we were lying at anchor being about twelve miles. We 

 found this petty prince residing in a large, well-built house, which may 

 have been 60 feet long by 30 wide, and was fully 30 feet high. It con- 

 sisted of a single apartment, but one end was shaded off with mats as 

 a sleeping-place. There was a suspended platform or loft, where his 

 store of cloth, &c, was kept. The cooking-place, well formed with 

 stones, was at one end, and at the other mats were spread, where the 

 chief and his family, and his guests, were seated. The humble re- 

 tainers crouched round the walls in the farther extremity. Eehind 

 where the chief sat, was a row of some fifteen well-cleaned muskets, of 

 which he seemed proud, for, on our departure, he fired some of them as 



