58 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



savage tribes, and I am convinced that sensible 

 Europeans might raise them to a state of real 

 civilization. On passing a cocoa-tree, I observed 

 a stone tied to a branch of it ; I asked my com- 

 panion why it was done, and received for answer, 

 tabuii at the same time giving me to understand 

 that the fruit was not allowed to be eaten. The 

 word tabui has much resemblance^with the taboo of 

 the South Sea islanders, and seems to have the 

 same meaning, but I have never heard it since. 

 It would be remarkable to find words here which 

 could prove, by their similitude, that the inhabit- 

 ants of this group have perhaps come from the 

 east ; but of all the words which we have hitherto 

 marked down, not a single one, except this, indicates 

 such a circumstance. On the shore we met with 

 a plain tomb, consisting of a square built of coral 

 stones ; it appeared to me that the inhabitants were 

 not allowed to enter it, and I have since learnt, that 

 only the chiefs are buried, but that all the other 

 corpses are thrown into the sea. It was evening ; 

 I was obliged to put an end to my walk, and took 

 leave of my friends, who accompanied me to the 

 boat, where they perceived a fowling-piece, the 

 use of which they insisted on knowing. I gave 

 them to understand that it produced a loud noise, 

 but they misunderstood me, and thought that I 

 used it as they do the shell-horn. The old man 

 gave me some cocoa-nuts on parting, and called 

 me his Aidara. 



