Jan 



194 VOYAGE TO THE 



obtained by estimation only, the natives appearing 

 to have an objection to our pacing the ground for 

 iS. the purpose of measurement. The south side of the 

 house was left open, and the ends were made of an 

 open framework of upright poles traversed at right 

 angles by smaller spars, so that the roof and the north 

 side were the only parts covered in. They served 

 as an excellent protection from the sun, while the 

 trade-wind traversing every corner of the apartment 

 rendered it agreeably cool. On that part of the 

 house where the side was deficient, there was a 

 foundation for the wall about three feet in height 

 thrown up, composed of large blocks of coral, shaped 

 in a very workmanlike style, similar to those men- 

 tioned by Cook at the Friendly Islands, and well 

 put together : it stood about three feet within the 

 outer part of the roofing, and served as a seat for the 

 chiefs as well as for many others. 



We perceived no furniture in their houses, and 

 some of our officers thought it was purposely put 

 out of sight. The only utensils were gourds and 

 cocoa-nut shells. The tables were made of slabs of 

 coral, or sometimes of wood, in which case they are 

 carved : they are about a yard long, and are placed 

 upon wooden or stone pedestals sufficiently high to 

 prevent the depredations of the rats. They stand in 

 the middle of the paved areas in front of the houses, 

 from which we infer the practice of eating in the 

 open air. Their food has already been described as 

 consisting principally of sour paste (the mahie of the 

 Friendly Islands, Otaheite, Marquesas, &c), made 

 with plantains, bread-fruit, and boiled tee-root. 

 The paste or mahie, when fresh and hot, has not a 

 disagreeable taste ; a slight flavour of baked apples 



