

476 A NATURALIST ON THE a CHALLENGER." 



charms are sometimes made of four human ulnar and radial 

 bones, sometimes of hand bones, and one contained the bones 

 of a large bird, probably the eagle (Pandion halicetus). It is a 

 curious fact that one such charm which was purchased, contained 

 an imitation head of a human humerus, cut in wood. Possibly 

 the owner intended to deceive his enemies by this artifice. 

 Some of the officers told me that they made the natives readily 

 understand when they wanted to visit the temple by pointing 

 upwards. It would appear thus that the gods or religious 

 influence is supposed to reside above. 



The only appearance which I saw of a religious ceremony 

 was the chant of the old women. One man who came off to 

 the ship often, invariably with his body blackened all over with 

 peroxide of manganese, was thought to be a sort of priest ; he 

 wore a narrow fillet round his head, with an ovulum ovum shell 

 suspended from it on one side. 



The dead are buried in the ground. Two different natives, 

 one on Dentrecasteaux Island, and the other on Wild Island, 

 explained to me by signs in an unmistakeable way, that the 

 skulls put up about the houses were obtained by burying bodies 

 in the earth, and afterwards digging them up again. The value 

 set upon the skulls and bones as ornaments, and probably also 

 superstitious motives, are no doubt the reason why no marks 

 of burial were seen ; no mark is made probably for fear of the 

 bones being stolen. Two at least of the skulls procured were 

 those of females. 



The fact that some of the men restrain themselves and ab- 

 stain from the use of betel, seems to be a proof of considerable 

 strength of character. I gave a hatchet to a guide at Dentre- 

 casteaux Island as pay, according to promise. He seemed 

 grateful, and presented me with his own shell adze in return, 

 unasked, and he made signs that the others had got enough, and 

 that we were not to give more away ; that we were being 

 swindled. 



The natives delighted in being towed along in their canoes 

 by the steam pinnace, and clapped their hands with delight ; 

 but of course did not understand how the boat moved, nor 

 apparently see in the fire the cause of motion. They came up 



