312 AUSTRALASIAN AND POLYNESIAN 
For the first child, on the fifth day after birth, food is cooked 
by the husband’s and wife’s relatives, and the women of the 
village where the woman who has given birth to the child resides 
partake of it. 
Only illegitimate children are killed. There is no infanticide 
and no cannibalism. 
Children are named by relatives—if a girl, the mother’s friends 
give the name ; if a boy, the father’s friends. A name will be 
given for a quarrel, or a journey, or anything particular occurring 
on it, or sickness. A man is now here named by a relative who 
at the time of his birth was suffering from a sore chest, and he 
named the child Harepai (sore chest). They do not actually kill 
deformed children, but they are so neglected that they soon die. 
They do not pierce the nose until the child is about five or six 
years old, having no superstition regarding it. The mother 
carries the child in her arms, or, when going a distance, in a net 
bag over her back. The father frequently nurses the child. 
Yesterday a father returned from a journey, and when safely 
landed, his wife met him, gave him the child, which he nursed 
affectionately, whilst the wife carried home the things on the 
canoe. Such may be seen any day. The child suckles until 
walking about. Children are lovingly cared for by parents and 
relatives. Uncles and aunts take as great an interest in the 
children as the parents do. They are not disciplined, are taught 
planting, sago-making, and fighting. 
There is no betrothal in infancy. When young women, they 
are betrothed. Parents make all arrangements, but not unless it 
is agreeable to the young man and woman. 
MATURITY. 
Fourteen and fifteen years old. There are no observances at 
that time. Lads, when about seventeen or eighteen, leave off the 
sporran worn by all boys, enter the Eramo (temple or dubu), and 
these adopt the string, shave the head, and remain for many 
months until the hair has grown long and frizzy. Before entering 
the Eramo the father, or nearest relative, kills a pig and makes 
a feast, and invites all friends to assemble. A relative takes off 
the sporran, and fastens on the sihi (string), after which all sit 
down and eat. When the hair is well grown he leaves the Eramo, 
and again there is feasting. He is now considered a man, and is 
marriageable. When in the Eramo he is not supposed to look upon 
or be seen by a woman. Female friends cook food and leave it 
outside, making a noise as they leave, and shortly the lad 
‘descends, takes it into the Eramo, and eats it. They spend the 
time in the Eramo making armlets from fibres. The old men, who 
live mostly in the Eramo, occupy themselves in working (plaiting) 
belts, which are worn by young men after birth of the first child. 
