320 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



New Hebrides is that of intense degradation. They have no 

 traditions, and their religion resembles fetish worship. Kind- 

 ness, gratitude, or even natural affection (except perhaps that 

 of a mother for her child) are unknown. But in some of 

 the islands Christian missions from Samoa have been very suc- 

 cessful, especially in Antietum, where cannibalism has ceased 

 for about twenty years, and the natives are all nominal Chris- 

 tians. 



A few traders have settled among the group. The employ- 

 ment of labourers from the New Hebrides is certain to advance 

 the civilisation of its people ; but time will be required, re- 

 membering their inherent degradation, and the fact that much 

 of the prevalent licentiousness is due to the pernicious influ- 

 ence of some of the whites who took up their abode among 

 them many years since. 



The climate of this group is damp, and sometimes considered 

 unhealthy. Cotton and the usual products of Polynesia, in- 

 cluding the sugar-cane, nutmegs, and cocoa-nuts, grow abund- 

 antly. The canoes of the people are rude in shape, and very 

 clumsily fitted. Their arms are clubs, spears, and arrows, the 

 latter generally supposed to be poisoned. Their gods, or 

 ' devils,' are usually faces not unskilfully cut out of wood. 

 Sometimes they are images of chiefs, made of clay and 

 bamboo. Circumcision is practised universally. As in an 

 island nearer home, the pigs share a Malicolo man's house, 

 and the children and pigs sleep comfortably in the dust to- 

 gether. Infanticide is common, and the funeral ceremonies are 

 like those practised in Fiji in the olden times. 



Reference has been made to Nieue, or Savage Island, so 

 named by Captain Cook, on account of the extreme ferocity 

 with which its natives attacked his landing detachment. It is 

 about 36 miles in circumference, and about 200 feet high at 



