62 ox A CRUISE TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, 



is often inflicted on those commitiing adultery. An instance of 

 this occurred while we were cruising among these islands, a 

 woman who had been previously caught, detected, and cautioned, 

 having again been found in the act, was beheaded on the beach ; 

 the execution being witnessed by the Captain and crew of one of 

 the trading schooners. 



A peculiar and perhaps unique custom in connection with their 

 marriage is worth relating ; the bride being taken on trial for 

 "one Yam," (a term corresponding with our year), and at the 

 end of this period if she has given satisfaction to her husband, 

 he pays whatever was agreed upon to her father or guardian, if 

 not, as in several instances pointed out to us, the marriage is not 

 consummated and the girl returns to her parents. Syphilis in a 

 more or less virulent form is very prevalent in both sexes, but 

 they appear to have no idea of curing or in any way mitigating 

 this wretched disease. Honesty is one of the few virtues that 

 can be placed to the credit of these savages, petty theft being of 

 rare occurrence ; this was exemplified by the careless manner in 

 which articles of value were left about the Traders' dwelling. 



Besides the produce of their gardens and plantations, their 

 food consists principally of fish and several kinds of Mollusks 

 that abound on the coral reefs surrounding the islands. .Feasts 

 are of frequent occurrence and often occasion serious disturb- 

 ances. But not the least peculiar of their customs, is their 

 method of disposing of their dead ; the corpses of people of no 

 rank or importance are simply wrapped in grass mats with heavy 

 stones at their feet and buried ; but the remains of a chief, or 

 any one of note is placed on a platform erected for that purpose 

 jn the woods ; two men being appointed to attend to it every 

 day, washing it down until the bones are quite clean ; the skull 

 is then taken and hung up in the house of one of the deceased's 

 relatives or friends, and the rest of the skeleton buried. 



Grrotesque, and rudely carved figures representing men, birds, 

 fishes, and reptiles embellish the door posts and other heavy 



