Etlinograpliy of Micronesia. 133 



have all of them logs, lacking in ornamont and colour. It, 

 however, requires some skill to carve out the legs. It may bo 

 that the zen and the cup with a stand, which are now in use in 

 Japan, have tlie same origin as such food-bowls in Yap. 



c. Taro-tahles. — There are many more kinds of culinary uten- 

 sils and food-bowls in Palau than those mentioned above, but of 

 those not found in the East Caroline group the taro-table of largo 

 size is perhaps the most striking example. We brought back a 

 specimen of such a table, which is carved from a hard piece of wood 

 and stands on eight legs. It is inlaid with potsherds and painted 

 a dark red colour, like other vessels, though the colours used are 

 different. The taro-table docs not show any particular workman- 

 ship, but it is certainly a laborious piece of work, carved, as it is, 



Fig. 36.— Taro-table fioin Talau. 



out of a single log of wood. It is 1-58 m. long, 38 cm. wide and 

 33 cm. high. There are, however, many sizes larger or smaller 

 tlian the one mentioned above. Cooked taro is placed on this table 

 when guests are to be entertained. It forms a necessary household 

 piece of furniture for chiefs and other influential natives (Fig. oQ). 

 d. Tortoise-shell Utensils. — Another point w^orth noticing about 

 the utensils for food in Palau is that there are plates and spoons of 

 tortoise-shell in the islands. The plate we obtained is some 18 cm. 

 long, about 10 cm. at the widest point, and 1*5 cm. deep, being el- 



