84 ETHNOGRAPHY. 



windward side of the island ; the Kiti on the south, and the Djekoits, 

 Nat, and U on the northwest. Mr. Punchard thought that the three 

 last-named were not originally distinct. These tribes are nominally 

 independent, and make war upon one another, but they are still con- 

 nected together, like the German States in the middle ages, by a 

 certain general system of policy, with which even their wars do not 

 interfere. A chief of one tribe is recognised as such by the rest, and 

 takes rank among them accordingly. In case of hostilities, the 

 attacking party is bound to send word to the other of the time and 

 place fixed upon for the conflict, in order to give opportunity for 

 preparation. Nothing like conquest is ever attempted. The van- 

 quished always retain their lands, the victors contenting themselves 

 with the spoil of their villages. The fruit-trees are never destroyed. 



The priests, according to O'Connell, have considerable influence. 

 They are called ediomet, and belong to the class of petty chiefs ; 

 indeed, this word is frequently used to signify merely chief. Their 

 worship is very simple. It consists in prayers and invocations 

 addressed to the spirits (hani or ani) of departed chiefs. They have 

 neither temples, idols, nor offerings. Certain animals, also, particu- 

 larly fish, are esteemed sacred among them, some, as eels, being so 

 to the whole people, while others are merely prohibited to particular 

 families. O'Connell supposes this to proceed from some rude system 

 of metempsychosis, connected with their religious belief. 



The dead are wrapped in mats, and buried about three feet below 

 the surface of the earth. If a male, a paddle from his canoe is buried 

 with him; if a female, her spindle or distaff. Over the grave a cocoa- 

 nut tree is planted, the fruit of which is seldom if ever disturbed, 

 and, besides the paddle buried with the body, they sometimes lay one 

 or more upon the ground near the grave. 



The well-known drink of the Polynesians, termed by them kava 

 or ava, prepared from the root of the Piper methysticum, is also in 

 use here. The mode of preparation, however, is different and more 

 cleanly. The root, instead of being chewed, is pounded on a large 

 stone,* and then mixed with water, which is afterwards strained 

 through a mesh of cocoa-nut fibres. It is served out at their public 

 feasts with great ceremony, the distinctions of rank being carefully 

 observed. 



* This change, it will be observed, is precisely that which a refined people would 

 make in adopting such a custom. 



