202 CANOES OF CORAL HAVEN DESCRIBED. 



ballast also was thrown out^ when the boat of course 

 returned. By Caj)tain Stanley's orders two musket 

 shots were fired over the canoes^ while about 300 

 yards distant^ to shew that althoug-h in fancied 

 security they were still within reach. The splash 

 of the first bullet caused them to paddle off in g-reat 

 haste^ and^ when they ag-ain stopped^ a second shot^ 

 striking' the water be3^ond the canoes^ sent them off 

 to the shore at their utmost speed. 



With a sing'le exception^ to be afterwards noticed^ 

 the canoes seen by us in Coral Haven are of the 

 following' description. The usual lenglh is about 

 twenty-five feet^ and one of this size carries fi'om 

 seven to ten people. The body is formed b}" the 

 hollow^ed out trunk of a tree^ tapering* and rising* 

 at each end^ short and rounded behind^ but in front 

 run out into a long* beak. A stout plank on each 

 side raises the canoe a foot^ forming* a g*unwale 

 secured b}^ knees^ the seam at the junction being* 

 payed over with a black pitch-like substance. This 

 g-unwale is open at the stern^ the ends not being* 

 connected^ but the bow is closed by a raised end- 

 board fancifully carved and painted in fi'ont of 

 which a crest-like wooden ornament fits into a 

 g*roove running* along* the beak. This fig*ure head^ 

 called tahurcij is elaborate^ cut into various de- 

 vices^ painted red and white^ and decorated with 

 white eg*g*-shells and feathers of the cassowary and 

 bird of paradise. The bow and stern also are more 

 or less profusely ornamented with these shells^, 



