92 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



the use of the women ; and sometimes smaller rooms are 

 inclosed from the sides of the building, the whole of which 

 is thatched with the leaves of the palm tree. 



The natives eat of all the tame animals which the island 

 produces, but they prefer the hog to all the rest ; next to 

 the hog's flesh they admire that of the horse, to which 

 succeeds the buffalo, and then the poultry ; and they like 

 the flesh of cats and dogs much better than that of goats 

 and sheep. They seldom eat fish. 



The fan-palm is the most remarkable, and most useful 

 tree that grows on the island, its uses being equally great 

 and various. Soon after the buds put forth, the natives 

 cut them, and tying under them little baskets, formed of the 

 leaves of the tree, a liquor drops into them, which has the 

 taste of a light wine, and is the common liquor of all the in- 

 habitants. The leaves of the tree are applied to the various 

 uses of making tobacco-pipes, umbrellas, cups, baskets, and 

 the thatching of houses. The fruit is nearly of the size of 

 a full-grown turnip ; but the natives are not fond 

 of it. 



The island consists of five divisions, each of which has a 

 raja, or chief governor of its own. The inhabitants are also 

 divided into five ranks ; the rajas, the land-owners, manu- 

 facturers, labourers, and slaves. The land-owners are re- 

 spected in proportion to the extent of their lands and the 

 number of their slaves, which last are bought and sold 

 with the estates to which they belong ; but when a slave 

 is bought separately, a fat hog is the price of the purchase. 

 Though a man may sell his slave in this manner, or convey 

 him with his lands, yet his power over him extends no 

 farther, for he must not even strike him without the raja's 

 permission. 



The natives in general are robust and healthy, and had 

 the appearance of being long-lived. The small-pox has 

 found its way to this island, and is as much dreaded as 

 the pestilence. When this disorder attacks any person, he 

 is carried to some spot at a great distance from any house, 

 where his food is conveyed to him by means of a long stick, 

 for no one will venture very near the invalid, who is thus 

 left to take his chance of life or death. 



The island of Savu having been visited by the Portuguese 

 almost at their first sailing into this part of the world, they 

 established a settlement upon it ; but in a little time they 

 were succeeded by the Dutch, who, though they did not 

 formally possess themselves of the island, sent a number 

 of trading vessels to establish a treaty of commerce with 

 the natives. The principal object of this treaty is, that the 

 rajas should furnish the Dutch, for the consumption of their 



