BY ALEX. MOllTOX. 61 



among liis own kindred or people, a youth thus obtained is 

 frequently chosen and invested with the name, honors, privileges 

 and power of the deceased, the last named attribute being, except 

 on the occasion of some great feast or in time of war, merely 

 nominal. 



Polygamy is sanctioned, but is not very prevalent, the men as 

 a rule, finding that they have quite enough to do to maintain one 

 famih'. Yams, Taro, Sweet Potatoes, Bananas, and other tropical 

 fruits and vegetables are carefully cultivated in neatly fenced 

 enclosures of from two to five acres in extent throughout the 

 whole of the Grroup. Pigs are highly prized and cared for, the 

 Ugi women having been known to suckle the young ones. 



A miserable lot of half-starved and mang}- dogs are to be found 

 in all the villages, and are much esteemed by their savage masters. 

 As far as we could understand any form of religion is decidedly 

 at a discount among the Solomon Islanders, vague ideas as to the 

 existence of evil spirits or devils being the only definite form it 

 assumed, and among the animated objects that are regarded as 

 supernatural are Fire Plies. Cannibalism is still practised but 

 only the flesh of enemies, slain either by themselves or some 

 friendly tribe, is eaten. 



I must not forget to mention a very beautiful species of dwarf 

 Cocoanut Palm which I noticed planted on a low mound and 

 held in great reverence, it was surrounded with Crotons, and 

 Dracaenas, and the mound on which it was growing was ornamented 

 with Coral boulders and large shells ; the nuts were small, about 

 four inches in diameter and the leaves were remarkable for their 

 beautiful golden yellow tinge. 



Sexual morality is certainly at a low ebb among these people, 

 and promiscuous intercourse with the unmarried females is 

 permitted ; once married however a woman is obliged to lead a 

 chaste and virtuous life, however loose her conduct might have 

 been previously ; so strict is this law that the penalty of death 



