22 



Tlic Ancient Hawaiian House. 



peak,''' whence tliey thatch clown with the wild sugar-cane, under which they place fern leaves. 

 These gradually increase in quantity until they reach to the eaves, which are about two or three feet 

 thick, project some distance over the sides and are cut off square. 



The sides are closed in with small cane, in square wickerwork, and not in diamond shape, as 

 those of Tonga. Mats are hung before the doors. The common houses are oblong, from twenty to 

 thirty feet in length, and fifteen feet high. Some of the best class of buildings, belonging to the 

 chiefs, are exceedingly well and ingeniously built. If a person wishes to build a house, he carries a 

 present of a whale's tooth to the king or chief, and tells him his wish, the size, &c. The king or 

 chief orders the men who are generally emploj-ed for such purposes, to prepare the timber and get 

 all things ready. The direction is given to some one as the chief superintendent, and from one to 

 five hundred men are employed, as may be deemed necessary. The house is fini.shed in ten or fifteen 

 days, and will last about five years without repairs to its thatching. They are, however, generally 

 considered tenantable for twenty years, or upwards. All the houses have fire-places a little on one 



FIG. iS. FIJIAN PILLOWS IN TIIK BLSIIOP MUSKUM. 



side of the centre ; these are nothing more than an ash-pit, with a few large stones to build the fire 

 and place the pots on. The same kind of fire-place is to be found in the nibures, where a fire is kept 

 burning night and day, which they believe the kalou or spirit requires. The houses generally are not 

 divided by partitions, but at each end they are raised about a foot above the centre floor. These 

 elevations are for sleeping, and are covered with layers of mats until they are soft and pleasant to 

 lie ou. In sleeping they use a pillow made of a piece of bamboo or other species of wood, about two 

 inches in diameter, with four legs; this is placed immediately under the neck, and is sufficiently 

 high to protect their large head of hair from being disarranged. 



From the con.stant use of this pillow, a scirrhous lump, as large as a goose-egg, is often formed 

 on the nape of the neck. This pillow was undoubtedly brought into use to protect their peculiar 

 fashion of wearing their hair ; and from the inquiries made, I found it had been used from time im- 

 memorial. Many of these pillows are carved and ornamented, and a chief always travels with his own. 



Again we mu.st ttirn to a devoted missionary who has lived among the Fijians 

 and has used his eyes to good advantage. Wilkes was perhaps abreast of his times in 

 way of gathering information, and he had the help of scientific men of undoubted 



"This is a mistake, as will be seen later on. 



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