'FROM ISLAND UNTO ISLAND? 343 



The principal islands of the Ellice Group, viz., Funafuti 

 (Ellice Island), Vaitupu (Tracy Island), Xukufetau (De Peyster 

 Island), and Xanomea (St. Augustine Island), are all lagoon 

 atolls ; concerning which I may repeat with equal truth the 

 remarks I made upon such atolls as the Marshall and Tuamotu 

 Groups. Perhaps the system adopted by the natives in the 

 cultivation of the taro, bananas, etc., in these islands is worthy 

 of being recorded, as showing their patient industry in sup- 

 plementing their ordinary fare of cocoa-nuts, pandanus fruit, 

 and fish. 



They dig large trenches, like wide moats, along the centre 

 of the islands. Some of these are from 100 to 200 yards 

 across them, and from 6 to 8 feet deep. 



The natives, in order to make the most of the scanty soil 

 Providence has given them, on the moist low level of these 

 moats or trenches throw decayed wood and leaves, and plant 

 everything that requires cultivation in the soil thus formed. 

 Nothing edible, except the cocoa-nut and pandanus, grows on 

 the upper sand. 



A sort of meke-meke obtains among them, but being intoned 

 on two notes only, it is rather a distressing performance ; 

 while the same kind of salutation which is common in Samoa 

 is also included in Ellice Island etiquette, i.e., touching the 

 back of the visitor's hand with the nose. The Polynesian 

 custom of cutting off the third finger of the right hand on the 

 loss of a child or very dear relative, was common before the 

 introduction of Christianity ; but Mr. Whitmee tells me the 

 custom was more practised by the women than the men. 



As a race these people are very quiet and peaceable. Quarrels 

 are scarce, and ordinary disputes are settled by the authority 

 of the king and leading chiefs, and on some of the islands war 

 is simply unknown. 



