RACES BIBLIOGRAPHY COMMITTEE. 337 
green stick, of a sort that will not easily burn. A large bundle 
of succulent leaves are now thrown upon the hot stones, occa- 
sioning a dense cloud of steam to arise. On this the well-scraped 
“taro,” split bread-fruits, sweet potatoes, or plantains are placed. 
Fish are invariably wrapped up in the leaves of the Cordyline 
terminalis, so that their juices may be retained. The oven is 
now covered in with a second bundle of fresh-plucked leaves. 
The dry leaves of yesterday are thrown on the top, and the whole 
pressed down by heavy stones kept for the purpose. In fine 
weather this steaming oven was made in the open air, in rainy 
weather under shelter. 
In heathen times it was customary at Mangaia and some other 
islands to slay all strangers. At Rarotonga, if a stranger 
landed in sight of one of their kings his life was safe; but even 
then it was not quite wise to travel any distance in the bush 
without the chief. But in these days the stranger is fairly well 
treated, often far better than he deserves. He shares the good 
things going and remains as long as he likes. It is usual, on 
meeting another, to share whatever food may be in the hand or 
in the basket. The influx of visitors is rapidly producing a 
change in their customs ; still, I think an unprejudiced observer 
must admit that the stranger is better cared for in Christian 
Polynesia than in Christian Britain. The generous man is the 
ideal good man yet. 
Ear ornaments were universal. The shell of a species of 
cocoanut producing small, long nuts—their ends rubbed off on 
madrepore coral—were filled with fragrant flowers and leaves and 
worn in the slit lobes of the ears of persons (males) of distinction. 
The lobes were marvellously distended by this practice. 
The arms of warriors—between the elbow and the shoulder— 
were tatooed black only, so that, on dance nights, the beautiful 
white (Ovwla ovum, Linn) shell fastened across with sennit might 
be the more admired. Happy was the dancer who had a shell 
for doth arms. 
Just above the ankles finely-plaited hair was wound repeatedly, 
the amount indicating the rank and wealth of the wearer. So, 
too, with the wrists and neck. From the plaited hair on the 
neck was suspended a large pearl shell, or, in lieu of this coveted 
ornament, a piece of “miro” wood ( Thespesia populnea), adzed 
into its shape. This plaited hair was called “manoa;” the 
breast ornament, “ tia.” 
The ears of children were pierced with fish-bone, then enlarged 
with a twig of the gardenia, so as to admit a fresh-plucked 
flower (the scarlet Azd7scus or the Gardenia). 
The women had to be content with necklaces and chaplets of 
flowers, but a favourite daughter might wear plaited hair round 
her neck. Of course, in each ear a flower was worn, and on her 
bosom a woman of rank might wear a “miro” ornament. Men 
Vv 
