Articles suitahle for Barter. — Difference of Races. 575 



axes, straight swords, muskets, ammunition, biscuit, old 

 clothes, and tobacco.* 



Of the latter article American Cavendish or negro-head in 

 longish pieces is the most in repute. The Puynipetanese have 

 no special fondness for cigars, nor do they use pipes, but only 

 chew passionately tobacco. As they are unacquainted with 

 the use of the Betel, their teeth are universally beautiful, and 

 of a brilliant white. 



There are on the island five tribes, wholly independent of 

 each other, — the Roankiddi, the Metelemia, the N(5t, the 

 Tchokoits, and the Awnak, none, however, numbering much 

 above 1500 souls, the most numerous and important being the 

 Roankiddi. 



Each king, we are told, has a minister whose power almost 

 rivals his own. Next in rank to the minister are the nobles, who 

 bear the following strange-sounding titles : Talk, Washy, Nane- 

 by, Noatch, Shoe-Shabut, and Groen-wani ; after these come 

 such as are not of noble birth, but have earned them through 

 illustrious deeds, and have been rewarded witli estates. On 

 the death of the king he is succeeded by whichever of his nobles 



* Captain Cheyne adds to the foregoing lists the following articles ; fish-hooks, 

 butcher's-knives, chisels, hand-saws, bill-hooks, planes, augers, piles, iron-pots, razors, 

 needles, twine, drills, gay parti-coloured cotton cloths, cotton hose, woollen cloths, 

 trinkets, glass-beads, straw-hats, chests with lock, key, and handles, spirits. The 

 equivalents as laid down by Captain Cheyne are as follows : — 



12 hens = 24 sticks of negro-head tobacco, or 4 ells of caUco. 



100 yams = 10 „ „ „ 



100 bread-fruit = 10 „ „ „ 



100 cocoa-nuts = 10 „ „ „ 



1 cluster of bananas = 2 „ „ „ 



