CUSTOMS AND SOCIAL HABITS OF THE RACES OP POLYNESIA. 487 



a circle or square, surrounded by cocoanut groves. The houses 

 of the best construction are built in a circular form, which some 

 have compared to huge bee-hives. Without any stretch of 

 imagination, one can easily suppose that the Eastern tent was the 

 original model of these houses. Two tall pillars, nearly close 

 together, form the centre and main props of the house, on tliese a 

 short ridge-pole is placed, and from this ridge-pole a circle of tine 

 rods radiates around to a considerable distance, about a hundred 

 feet in circumference, supported by jointed beams in pax'allel circles 

 to four or live feet from the ground. The last tier, of a strong 

 construction, is supported by a circle of small posts tixed in the 

 ground. The spaces between the posts are filled by curtains of 

 plaited cocoanut leaves, whicli can be drawn up at will, and leave 

 the whole house open and exposed. Ordinarily only a space in 

 what may be called the front of the house is left open. The roof 

 is covered with either pandanus or sugar-cane leaf thatch, twisted 

 on to reeds, and tied to the rods with cinet cord. The house, 

 thus constructed, has quite an Oriental tent-like form. These 

 dwellings can be detached in parts and removed to a distance, 

 even from one island to another. There are other kinds of 

 dwellings of an elliptical shape, but in like manner partake of a 

 tent form, quite open in front. 



The Papuan constructions are of an entirely different character, 

 and we recognise in these an African model. Some resemble 

 merely the roof of a house placed on the ground, and afibrd little 

 more than sleeping accommodation, or protection from the weather, 

 This is the general character of the huts in the New Hebrides 

 Islands. In New Caledonia and in the Loyalty Group, the 

 better class of houses are built in a high conical form, and are 

 adorned at the apex with a tall finial, ornamented with shells, or 

 a i-udely-carved model of the human figure. The edge of the 

 roof reaches three feet from the ground, and is there supported by 

 thick posts ; and both roof and sides are thatched with long grass. 

 Tliere is but one opening, a narrow doorway ; and the houses of 

 chiefs are distinguished by carved grotesque figures of men or 

 animals at each side of the entrance. These figures are roughly 

 coloured with black, red. and white pigments. The houses are 

 usually sui-rounded by a strong palisade or pah, enclosing the large 

 house and three or four small huts for the family, and a space 

 under the shade of trees which serves as their living and reception 

 room. There are some other habitations which closely resemble a 

 superior class of Australian gunyahs, such as are met with in 

 Northern Queensland. 



Between these dwellings of the INIalayan and Papuan races 

 there is a very striking distinction. The Malay houses develope an 

 Oriental origin, but the Papuan show an entirely difi'erent model, 

 which may be traced to an African soui'ce. In New Guinea the 

 African mode of building huts on the thick branches of trees is 



