158 ETHNOGRAPHY. 



relic of the wreck. Three cross-beams, about twenty feet long, and 

 six inches thick, which were fastened to the centre-posts ten feet from 

 the ground, had evidently been cut and planed by regular tools, and 

 we found, on inquiring, that they were also from the vessel. As the 

 names of the two survivors had both a Polynesian character, it oc- 

 curred to us that they might possibly have been Sandwich islanders, 

 and from them the natives may have obtained the word debolo which 

 so much puzzled us. The Hawaiians, being Christians, would natu- 

 rally apply the word to the native gods as a term of contempt, and 

 the islanders, not understanding of course its precise force, might 

 adopt it as synonymous with their word atua, deity. 



" Leaning against the largest post of the house were several spears 

 or clubs, all much worn and battered, which the natives said were 

 likewise from the sea; they have probably drifted here from Samoa 

 or the Feejee Group. It is remarkable that they were the only arms 

 that we saw on the island, and that the natives appeared to have no 

 specific name for these, calling them simply lakau taua, ' wood of 

 war.' 



" These were the only articles of consequence within the malae; but 

 in front of it was an object which attracted our attention from its 

 shape, and from the fact, which we soon learned, of its being the god 

 himself, the great Tui-Tokelau. Whatever may have been inside 

 was so thickly covered that it appeared like a pillar of matting, ten 

 feet high and as many in circumference. The natives seemed so 

 unwilling to have us examine it closely, that we did not choose to 

 indulge our curiosity at the expense of their feelings. 



" At a little distance from the malae was a well about fourteen feet 

 deep, neatly walled up, and surrounded by a high fence. There were 

 not more than thirty inches of water in it, and from the care which 

 was evidently taken of the place, it is probable that the pure element 

 is an article of much rarity and value among them. Beyond this, 

 along the shore of the lagoon, was a row of canoe-houses, perhaps 

 fifty in number. The canoes themselves were in the centre of the 

 lagoon filled with women and children. All, however, had not 

 availed themselves of this refuge, for in some of the houses were 

 found children and a few women, some of the younger ones being 

 remarkably pretty. The old queen, herself, was discovered hidden 

 under a mat, and betrayed great terror on being exposed to view. 



" In one part of the village we found two drums, one of them being 

 a mere trough or hollow log, like those of the Friendly Islands. The 



