Double Canoe. 



163 



of a few square yards in extent, and until recently it was usual 

 to find human teeth imbedded in the pores of the coral. They 

 have probably all been removed by curiosity hunters, for we 

 looked in vain for a single specimen. 



In a few years hence the old Fijian double canoe (consisting 

 of two canoes placed side by side, and connected by a bridge) 

 will be seen no more ; but we were lucky in having an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing one good specimen at Bau. It was hauled up 

 on a slip beneath a large thatched shed, and although by no 

 means one of the largest of its kind, yet it greatly exceeded my 

 expectations. The depth of hold was about five feet, so that 

 standing on the bottom of either canoe, my neck was just on a 

 level with the edge of the hatch, and the total length of each 

 canoe was 72 feet ; but what most surprised me was the enor- 

 mous size of the mast, which lay alongside the vessel. It was 

 about the size of the Alert's spanker boom. This canoe was 

 intended to carry 250 men, and I have no doubt it would hold 

 that number. 



Single outrigger canoes are still largely used. We saw several 

 in course of construction on the small recessed slips which indented 

 the sea-wall of the island. 



The genuine old native implements and weapons are now getting 

 very scarce, the demand for these articles in Europe having created 

 a trade which has almost exhausted the supplies of the country. 

 I inquired for stone adzes, and, after some difficulty, obtained one, 

 for which I paid a shilling ; but on subsequently groping for myself 

 amongst the ruins of the burnt huts, I succeeded in finding several 

 perfect and imperfect specimens. 



In the evening we witnessed the ceremony of angona drinking 

 in the king's state residence, where our friend the Ratu Joe pre- 

 sided on this occasion instead of his father. The performance 

 began with a long monotonous chant, which was maintained 

 alternately by an elderly man, who seemed to hold the office of 

 master of the ceremonies, and by a body of elderly men, amounting 



