VANUA-LAVA. 239 



the correctness of what is asserted, that tliey do not acknow- 

 ledge sucli an institution as a government by autocratic chiefs. 

 I was also informed that tliis club hou.se was the smallest 

 of several others that are to be found in the island. 



At this spot I procured by barter bows and poisoned 

 arrows, some rather pretty fresh-water dead shells, and 

 other curiosities besides. I observed iu a luit a number of 

 pieces of wood made in the shape of cutlasses, whicli tliese 

 people make use of for cutting up the yams and other 

 roots used in their cookery. Inside several of tliese huts I 

 saw old women with skinny pendent breasts, who, when they 

 perceived I was observing them, seemed to shf)w a feeling 

 of shame, and lowered their liands to covei- tlieir nakedness, 

 which was very inefTectually concealed by a girdle of only 

 an inch wide. I observed, however, a v/ell-made young 

 woman who ha<l not even tliis thread around her, but who, 

 as she stood, supported Avithout the least embarrassment 

 our gaze. 



On returning to the beacli, the rain still at times pouring 

 down in torrents, we had to cross another river about 

 thirty yards Avide, the Avater of Avhicli Avas limpid and 

 impregnated Avith sulijhur, and which as I forded it reached 

 my chin. I did not remark, though others had been struck 

 with it, that the water of this river was Avarm ; but that 

 some of these streams are hot was confirmed by what 

 Brazier told me Avlioni I had sent up the mountain, and 

 who, as he Avent along, fell in Avith a river at a point 

 where it Avas rolling on Avitli great swiftness, and so very 



