S. p. Smith. — Toncjareica, or Penrhyn Island. 93 



pools of fresh water, of which there appear to have been several 

 on the islands. They were hospitable and generous, like the 

 Maori, and also, like them, often entertained their visitors 

 till they had exhausted the whole of their supplies. They 

 sat cross-legged, like the Maori, were very talkative, accom- 

 panying their conversation with much gesticulation, were 

 easily worked up to a great pitch of excitement, very sensible 

 to ridicule, fond of laughter, and " fickle as the wind." They 

 had great bodily activity, were much given to singing as they 

 paddled over the smooth waters of the lagoon or travelled 

 along from island to island over the reef. Superstitious dread 

 of evil spirits prevented their venturing out at night except 

 in numbers. They did not steal from one another except on 

 organized foraging expeditions, when a dearth of cocoanuts 

 obliged them to make incursions on to a neighbouring island. 

 Fire was procured by friction exactly as the Maoris do, by 

 the use of two sticks, one laid on the ground and held in 

 position by the foot, whilst the other was rapidly passed back- 

 wards and forwards till a groove was formed and the dust in it 

 ignited. Counting was performed by pairs, just as with the 

 Maoris. 



The men employed themselves in fishing, making canoes,, 

 spears, or their household utensils, whilst the women did the 

 cooking, scraping the cocoanut-kernel to prepare niu wara — 

 with a shell scraper held exactly in the same peculiar manner 

 that the Maori woman holds the ^^i/ji-shell to scrape kumara 

 or potatoes. Salutations were performed by the ho)i(ji, or rub- 

 bing of noses, as with the Maori, to which the same name 

 was given. Bathing was the general panacea for all ills, 

 except of a very serious kind, when the priest was feed to 

 exert his influence, and by incantations to remove the cause. 

 They appear to have been almost as much at home in the 

 water as on land. It was the duty of the women to swim 

 out into the lagoon with a basket attached to a paddle, and 

 there dive to great depths for shell-fish, often bringing up the 

 great _paz<a or Tridacna. Sometimes the whole population of 

 a kainga, or village, would surround a shoal of porpoises outside 

 the breakers on the reef, and by their shouts and noise drive 

 them ashore. In doing this the women practised the same 

 custom as their Maori sisters — i.e., placing their elbows near 

 their sides they brought down tlie hollowed hands on to the 

 surface of the water, causing a loud report. 



Marriages were not allowed between relatives nearer in 

 degree of consanguinity than second cousins. Lamont de- 

 scribes a marriage ceremony as follows: "The relatives and 

 people, having taken their morning meal, assembled near the 

 hut of the chief, where the bridegroom was alread}' seated. 

 The bride herself was not visible, custom rather than modesty 



