C A L K DO N 1 A. 



i 



Ntw 



I 



the tea, searching for them with pointed sticks, which 



..rust into the sand. 



Tin- language that is spoken in New C 

 in >.mit degree peculiar, but seems to be chiefly a 

 compound formed from several of the languages pre- 

 val ut MI the different adjacent clusters of islands. A 

 Vocabulary of this language is annexed to tin- narra- 

 tive <>t D'Eutrecasteaux's voyage, published by La- 

 billardiere. from the circuniHtance of a name tor 

 iron occurring in their language, there appears rea- 

 son t<> conclude, that tin- im-t.il is not unknown to 

 tin- inhabitants of this island. It has not, however, 

 been observed to be in frequent use, even for pur- 

 PUM-.S fur which it might have been employed most 

 beneficially, in the manufacture of warlike instru- 

 ments for example, or of implements of labour. The 

 common hatchets are made of nerpent stone ; notwith- 

 standing the hardness of which, they effect their ob- 

 jects with difficulty, and chiefly through the exertion 

 of bodily strength. Yet did not implements of iron 

 seem to be in much request here, less, indeed, than 

 in any other of the- South Sea islands. 



The principal offensive weapons of the Cale- 

 donians are clubs, spears, darts, and slings, which 

 th y use with considerable art, and which are made 

 commonly with much neatness, and even decorated 

 oft -.MI with a profusion of ornaments. The materials 

 of which they are constructed are the same that are 

 used for the like purposes in the neighbouring islands. 



There is a material difference in the accounts given 

 by the navigators who have successively visited this 

 island, relatively to the character and manners of the 

 inhabitants. In the narrative which we have of Cap- 

 tain Cook's voyage, they are represented as a people 

 courteous, friendly, honest, and generally of a nnid 

 and innocent disposition. In the account given by 

 the French navigators, numerous instances are men- 

 tioned of their thievish inclinations, of their cunning, 

 and the artful arrangements adopted by them, with a 

 view to the accomplishment of their schemes of pil- 

 fering, and, in some cases, of their audacity and 

 shamelessness in effecting such objects, or in main- 

 taining and defending the acquisitions so obtained. 

 From various examples adduced of the actual fact, 

 as well as of several circumstances expressive of their 

 inclination, and of the means employed to gratify it, 

 nay, even from the exhibition of the instrument ap- 

 propriated precisely to this object, there seems 

 reason to conclude, that they have no disrelish for 

 hun-.an flesh ; though probabiy this appetite is not 

 indulged, except with a view to an imaginary height- 

 ening of the revenge upon thei* enemies, which 

 numerous Appearances in different parts of the coun- 

 try provt d them disposed to exercise with the most 

 unsparing fury and devastation. 



The territory ot New Caledonia is divided appa- 

 rently into many districts, each governed by its own 

 chief. There is some intercourse of war or of peace 

 between these different principalities, but there has 

 been as yet no such union as to have ever led to the 

 denomination of the whole island by a common name. 

 The authority of the several chiefs over their people 

 seems not to be vuy considerable, at least their or- 

 ders were by no means strictly attended to in any 

 thing that concerned the European visitors of the 

 country. .As it was observed, however, that more 



-non was paid to their command* in any ftUay 

 that retpfctrd their owi, particular inttrtlt, lite 

 greater indifference in ti ac, might peHMfi 



DI rather a nrw proof of artfulness of character than ' 

 of any real insubordination. We have no adequate 

 data whereby to ascertain the popuiounen of this 

 inland, though the reasonable presumption, even from 

 tin prevalent natun of the territory, it, that it can- 

 not be very considerable. 



-i<- chastity is here in reputation, and is guard* 

 ed with v -:iess, though, perhap , not - 



violably maintained, as might be concluded from 'be 

 representations on thi subject of thoxr who 6 < vi- 

 sited the Mand. In other respect*, women a.- i a 

 subordinate and servile state. It is they chiefly woo 

 cultivate the ground; and they are employed in all 

 other sorts of drudgery and manual lab ur. Th< 

 ropeans who visited New Caledonia, had tome op- 

 portunities of ascertaining the state of music in toe 

 island, both vocil and instrumental. The only musical 

 instrument observed here, was one formed of a piece 

 of polished brown wood, about two inches i"Og 

 shaped somewhat like a bell, with two holes : 

 near the base, and one at top, all communicating 

 with each other ; and by blowing into the uppermost 

 of which, a sort of shrill whistling sound was pro- 

 duced. In the singing that was heard, the perform- 

 ers seemed to have some idea of time and measure, 

 but their voices were harsh and discordant, and the 

 effect altogether to an European ear was rather dis- 

 agreeable, though to the natives themselves it ap- 

 peared to afford considerable pleasure. 



Of the religion of the people of New Caledonia* 

 nothing is known. They deposit their dead in the 

 ground. The burial places are generally in the vi- 

 cinity of their dwelling hou-.es, consisting of small 

 heaps of earth, raised a little, and covtrvd towards 

 the middle with a very open lattice work. 1'hose 

 in which their chiefs slain in battle are interred, are 

 decorated with spears, darts, paddles, and such other 

 insignia, emblematical either of a principal and impor- 

 tant object of their lives, or of the manner of thuir death. 



A sort of disease, somewhat of the nature of a 

 leprosy seems to be very prevalent in this island, the 

 effects of which are exhibited in great swellings of 

 the legs and arms, and a harsh, scaly, and smueunna 

 blotclu-d appearance of the skin. Much also i-. suf- 

 fered from the vast swarms of musquitoes which ho- 

 ver every where around the coasts, and are extremely 

 troublesome, both in the houses and in the fields. 

 See Cook's Second Voyage, chap. viii. ix. &c. ; and 

 Labitlardiere's Account of' a t'o^ape in tearch of La 

 Perouse, vol. i. and n. chap. \i. xi.i. xiv. (K) 



CALENDAR. See CHKONOUKIY. 



CALENDER, in the manufacture of cloth, in 

 its limited sense, is the name of a mechanical engine 

 used for smoothing the surface of cloth, after it has 

 undergone the previous operations of weaving, dye- 

 ing, or bleaching. In the more extensive and general 

 acceptation of the word, among those who deal in 

 cloth, a calender is a place where, besides smoothing 

 the cloth, the operation* of folding, papering, pack- 

 ing, and all others necessary to prepai . jo- 

 sure to sali , eithei in the home or foreign mark 

 are L..I n r. on. 



lor smoothing the supcriices of cloth, two duTe- 



