86 ISLAND OF UPOLU. 



as the ordinary fishing-net in use among us, with stones in- 

 stead of bits of lead, and pieces of light wood instead of cork. 

 The making of these is a distinct trade. They also make 

 from the above materials some very neat and useful baskets. 



Their food is prepared in the way practised in Tahiti, and 

 they have many dishes which are rich and agreeable to the 

 palate. 



The women are treated with as much consideration as in 

 any part of the world, and are not suffered to do any out-door 

 work. They are cleanly in their habits, and bathe daily, after 

 which they anoint themselves with oil and turmeric. The 

 girls are pretty, and quite modest. Their complexion is a 

 lighter brown than that of the Tahitian women. It is the 

 practice of mothers here to suckle their children until they 

 are five or six years of age, and I myself saw a woman who 

 gave nourishment to two children of different ages at once. 



The mariage-vow is observed with strict fidelity. The 

 usual mode of courtship is for the man to take a basket of 

 fruit and offer it to the object of his choice. If the young 

 woman partakes of it, his addresses are favorably received, 

 and he applies to his chief for permission to marry. When 

 this is granted, he calls on the parents of the girl, and pays 

 them a stipulated price for her, which varies with the re- 

 spectability and circumstances of her family. The ceremony 

 is concluded with a grand feast, to which the relatives and 

 acquaintances of the parties are invited. 



Children are brought up without severity. As soon as the 

 boy can make use of his hands and feet, his father furnishes 

 him with a little bow and arrow, and exercises him in shooting 

 at a target, or throwing stones at a mark by the sea-side. 



Their burials are conducted as follows : — The body is 

 enveloped in several thicknesses of tapa, and placed in a grave 



