1890.] on Manners and Customs of Torres Straits Islanders. 155 



the canoes are not decorated in the old style. It was in Mabuiag 

 alone that I found two canoes which were more or less decorated. 

 Utilitarian ideas are now too widely spread for the aesthetic faculty 

 to be indulged in. 



I have dwelt at some length on this subject, as it is important 

 to record all transitions. As an example of how rapidly and com- 

 pletely some changes occasionally come about, I may mention that at 

 Mer, one of the Eastern Islands, some, at all events, of the young 

 men did not appear to know that there had been a change in the rig 

 of their canoes. 



But, after all, the most interesting feature in connection with the 

 canoes is the method by which they are purchased. I have previously 

 mentioned that they were made on the mainland of New Guinea 

 on the banks of the Fly Eiver. Supposing a native of Muralug 

 (Prince of Wales' Island, the island which is nearest to Cape York), 

 wants a canoe. He sends word, say, to a relation of his in Moa, for 

 the inhabitants of these two islands often intermarry. The latter 

 sends a message to the next island of Badu. A Badu man passes on 

 the word to Mabuiag (these two also were intermarrying islands) ; the 

 Mabuiag native informs a friend in Saibai, who in turn delivers the 

 message at Mowat, on the mainland of New Guinea, or Daudai, as 

 the islanders call it, thence the word passes along the coast till it 

 reaches the canoe makers. As soon as the canoe is ready it retraverses 

 the route of the order, being handed on from place to place, and 

 island to island, until it at length reaches its destination. Should, 

 however, there be a new canoe for sale on any of the intermediate 

 stations, this might be sold, and thus obviate the tedious delay of 

 waiting for one to be made to order. Another trade route is through 

 Nagir and Tud to Mowat. The Murray Islanders send to Erub, and 

 the natives of the latter island trade directly with Parem and the 

 mouth of the Fly Eiver. The most remarkable feature in these 

 transactions is that payment is usually extended over three years ; in 

 fact, that canoes are purchased on the three years' hire system. This 

 method of purchase, though but recently adopted by ourselves, has 

 for an unknown period been practised by the naked islanders. The 

 mere fact of its existence demonstrates a high level of commercial 

 morality, for if the debts were often repudiated, the whole system 

 would long ago have collapsed. 



This commercial morality corroborates to a considerable extent 

 the ethical standard said to be imparted to the youths during initia- 

 tion. Nor would I like to say that they acted less up to their 

 standard than we up to ours ; I doubt whether we would be much 

 the gainers by a comparison. In making this statement it must be 

 distinctly understood that I am only comparing their lives with their 

 own ideals, and not judging them by the ethical standards of other races. 

 It is true they were treacherous, often murdered strangers, and were 

 head-hunters ; that their ideas of sexual morality differed from ours, 



