208 THE CRUISE OF THE ' CUBAQOA: 



sparse and locally limited as exhibited in the woodcut. All 

 wear some ornament round tlie neck, beads, locks of hair, 

 and whale's teeth. They wear from one to six armlets 

 made of the cocoanut shell above the elbow, and to them 

 they suspend their spear-thrower and sling. 



The morality of this people is in some respects of a very 

 low character. The natives assert that tlie present exces- 

 sive licentiousness was introduced by the Whites, who 

 foi'merly resided on the island. It is a question. The 

 chiefs have a sort of pride in getting drunk on Kava eveiy 

 night ; intoxication indeed appears to be their greatest 

 delight. It is an accepted maxim among these islanders, 

 that it is quite permissible for any one to ^teal whatever he 

 likes, provided he be not detected, or fail in his purpose ; 

 otherwise it is a disgrace, as it was in Sparta. Murder is 

 frequent ; sometimes children and old people are got rid of 

 in order to save the cost of supporting them. They strangle 

 the wives on the death of their husbands, and, however little 

 attached these may be to the defunct, they submit to this 

 barbarous custom without hesitation, and even with eager- 

 ness, thus showing they have a firm behef in a future state. 

 All imaginable crimes are committed, and to the great 

 satisfaction, apparently, of the islanders. Polygamy exists, 

 but does not appear to be common. Adultery is restrained 

 by the fear of the revenge of the injured person. Though 

 they sometimes kill their children, it is but just to say that 

 they generally treat them with affection, spoil them even, 

 girls as well as boys. Circumcision is a general practice 



