408 SUPERSTITIONS. [1841 



The handles of the swords, the shafts of the spears, and the 

 clubs, are made of coeoa-nut wood. Shark's teeth are in- 

 serted in the sword handles and fastened with gum, and barbs 

 for the spears are also made of them. For defensive purpo- 

 ses, they have a sort of cuirass, like an ancient shirt of mail, 

 covering the body as far down as the haunches, and rising 

 above the back of the head from three to four inches : this piece 

 of armor is drawn on over the head, there beim* holes for the 

 arms; and it affords complete protection against the native 

 weapons, as it is nearly half an inch thick, and is made of 

 the fibres of the husk of the cocoa-nut closely matted together. 

 They have, also, a similar defence for the arms, and cuishes 

 and greaves for the thighs and legs, made of netted sennit ; 

 and the head is defended by a helmet consisting of the skin 

 of the porcupine fish, with the tail sticking upwards like a 

 crest. 



When not at war, the men spend most of their time in 

 taking care of their taro beds and yam plantations, and culti- 

 vating the cocoa and pandanus trees ; or in building houses and 

 canoes, taking fish, and fashioning their tools and weapons. 

 Both sexes pay considerable attention to personal cleanliness, 

 and wash their bodies daily, and anoint them with cocoa-nut 

 oil. They rise at daylight, and after their morning toilet is 

 performed, the men go out to work while the women pursue 

 their in-door occupations, such as preparing food, and making 

 mats, sails, baskets, maros and iriris. When the heat be- 

 comes too oppressive, which it usually does about nine o'clock, 

 out-door labor is suspended, and the first meal during the 

 day is then eaten. Sleeping, chatting, and light occupations 

 inside of their houses, now occupy the time until four o'clock, 

 when the rays of the sun begin to lose their power, and the 

 men again sally out to continue the labors of the morning. 



They have several divinities, the chief one of which is 

 Wainangin, or Tabu-eriki, who is worshipped in the form of 

 a coral stone, surrounded with the leaves of the cocoa, that 

 are always changed when they begin to wither. Their prin- 

 cipal female deity is Itivini : she is worshipped in a small 



