1S40.] customs. 34? 



disearded, but vermilion, for ornamenting the tip of the nose. 

 is considered almost priceless, — and the surest way to wis 

 the favor of the Feejeean is to present him with a snia! 

 quantity of this pigment. 



Tattooing is performed only on the females, by persons o' 

 the same sex. It is mainly confined to the lips and corner 

 of the mouth, and the parts covered by the liku — the lattei 

 only being the most commonly tattooed. Ornaments about 

 the wrists and ankles are rarely seen. This decoration of the 

 body is regarded as highly important; it being thought essen- 

 tial to the safe passage of the women to the other world. It 

 is performed about the age of puberty (usually fourteen 

 years.) — and this period is celebrated by the young damsel 

 and her associates. Circumcision is practiced on boys, as 

 part of the ceremonies at the burial of duel's, or on other 

 great occasions, and it is said that a similar custom is ob- 

 served with regard to the other sex in some districts. 



In sitting down the males rest their bodies on their 

 haunches, and dispose of their limbs by curling them up in 

 front. The women assume a sort of oblique kneeling posture, 

 so as not to expose their persons, sitting, as it were, on the 

 calves of their lesrs. 



Baked pig, bread-fruit, taro, and yams — the last three pre- 

 pared in various ways, — are the articles of food most com- 

 monly eaten. They have also several agreeable preparations 

 of the cocoa-nut which are made use of. Bananas and 

 plantains are eaten, but are not so highly prized as the other 

 edible productions of the group. The food of the common 

 people is principally of a vegetable character. Fish and 

 fowls often appear on the tables of the chiefs. Human flesh, 

 as has been mentioned, is a rarity. Their cooking is prin- 

 cipally performed by steam. For this purpose they use 

 e*arthen pots made by themselves, in which their food is 

 placed with a small quantity of water. These pots are 

 manufactured by women who follow this employment only; 

 they are made of clay, which is first fashioned into nearly the 

 desired shape with the hand ; a smooth round stone is then in- 



