634 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



tribe should have a quarrel with its chief it cannot depose 

 him, but it can pass over to another tribe and be amalgamated 

 with it, or it may still retain its identity and remain simply as 

 refugees, and is at liberty to return to its own land at a 

 future date. 



On Uvea (Tai), of the Loyalty Group, the dominant tribe 

 was defeated in a general insurrection of the inferior tribes 

 about fifty years ago, and was nearly exterminated. The 

 survivors fled to New Caledonia, and have formed a distinct 

 tribe there on the north-east of the island, at a place called 

 Yengen. On the north and south peninsulas of Tai i-eside 

 tribes of castaways of the Malay-Polynesian race from Uvea 

 (Walhs' Island) and Tonga. By the former, that end of the 

 island is called Uvea, which name has mistakingly been 

 given to the whole island, and the southern end is sometimes 

 called Tonga from a similar reason. 



Social and Domestic. 



Among the Sanioan people there is an amount of refine- 

 ment and civilisation not to be found in any other part of 

 the Pacific, and these are apparent in their social and domestic 

 life. Their houses were of a superior construction, not mere 

 huts of rough materials, and remarkable only for largeness of 

 size. Housebuilding is an established trade, confined to certain 

 families, and affording considerable emolument and privileges 

 to the craftsmen. The best houses are constructed chiefly 

 of the wood of the breadfruit tree ( Artocarpus incisaj. Two 

 (sometimes three) large central posts form the main supports, 

 capped by a strong ridge-pole, from which descend a number 

 of light rafters fixed to the wall-plate, which is in a circular, 

 sometimes oval form, and upheld by a circle of posts or studs, 

 from four to five feet out of the ground, and about four feet 

 apart. The roof is encircled by a series of parallel bearers 

 about three inches thick, fastened to the rafters by sinnet. 

 Over these, from the ridge-pole to the wall-plate, is an 

 elaborate covering of fine rods, like the bars of a cage, an 

 inch or so apart, made of slips or laths of breadfruit wood 

 joined together with neatly formed knotches, bound with fine 

 sinnet. No nails or spikes are employed in the building. 

 All joints are made by exactly corresponding knotches, and 

 secured by layers of sinnet worked in orderly and artistic 

 form. The thatching is made of sugar-cane leaves, fastened 

 on reeds in five feet lengths. The space between the posts 



