BEUMER ISLANDERS. 267 



canoe^ attached by small sticks or peg's let into the 

 wood to eig'lit or nine supporting* poles the inner 

 ends of which rest in notches in both g*unwales^ 

 and are secured there. A portion^ or the whole of 

 this framework^ is carefully covered over with planks 

 or long- sticks^ and occasionally a small stage is 

 formed on the opposite side^ over the centre of the 

 canoe^ projecting' a little outAvardly^ with room upon 

 it for two people to sit and paddle. The canoes of 

 this description which we saw were not provided 

 with any other sail than a small temporary one^ 

 made by interlacing* the leaflets of the cocoa-palm^ 

 and stuck up on poles when going with the wind 

 free. The paddles used here are similar in shape 

 to those seen in the Louisiade Archipelag'O; with 

 spear-shaped blades and slender handles^ but are 

 larger— measuring" six feet in length — and of neater 

 construction^ the end of the handle being- carved 

 into some fanciful device. 



About sunset^ and when about to leave us^ one 

 of the Brumer Islanders^ standing* on a large cata- 

 maran alongside^ put himself into a grotesque atti- 

 tude^ and commenced beating* with his hand upon a 

 larg*e tin can which some one had given him^ at the 

 same time g'oing throug-h some of the motions of a 

 dance. He seemed to be a most amusing* vagabond^ 

 for^ upon our drummer being* set to work in the 

 chains^ after joining* with the other natives in the 

 first exclamations of surprise^ he listened attentively 

 for a little^ and then struck up on his o^^^n extempore 



VOL. I. s 



