VIII. 



Feb 

 1826 



240 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. C ora] islands by means of wells. In digging them, 

 the choice of situation should be given to the most 

 elevated part of the island, and to a spot distant from 

 the sea ; perhaps in the vicinity of cocoa-nut trees. 

 It is a curious fact that, in Bow Island, the water 

 that flowed into holes dug within a yard of the sea 

 was fresh enough to be drunk by the sailors, and 

 served the purpose of the natives while they remain- 

 ed in our vicinity ; though I do not think Europeans 

 could have used it long with impunity. 



Not far from the temporary residence of the na- 

 tives, there was a level spot of ground, overgrown 

 with grass, upon which the observatory was erected ; 

 and I had in consequence frequent intercourse with 

 them, and, through the medium of the interpreter of 

 the Dart, learned many interesting particulars con- 

 cerning them. By this account they have not long 

 desisted from cannibalism. On questioning the 

 chief, he acknowledged himself to have been present 

 at several feasts of human bodies, and on expatiating 

 on the excellence of the food, particularly when it 

 was that of a female, his brutal countenance became 

 flushed with a horrible expression of animation. 

 Their enemies, those slain in battle, or those who 

 die violent deaths, and murderers, were, he said, the 

 only subjects selected for these feasts ; the latter, 

 whether justified or not, were put to death, and 

 eaten alike with their victims. They have still a 

 great partiality for raw food, which is but one re- 

 move from cannibalism ; and when a canoe full of fish 

 was brought one day to the village, the men, before 

 it could be drawn to the shore, fell upon its contents, 

 and devoured every part of the fish except the bones 

 and fins. The women, whose business it was to 



