168 RFPOKT— 18/6. 



of tattooing prevail ; but iu Banks' group, wliere there appears to have been at 

 some time or other an admixture of Malay blood, a totally different kind of tattoo- 

 ing obtains from that of the islands of the southward. Here the bodies, especially 

 of the -women, are often eon.ipletely covered with tattoo marks representing lace- 

 work of the most artistic design. This style of tattooing is often extended so as 

 to cover the body entirely from the feet, over the face, and even to the very roots 

 of the hair. This mode of decoration is performed by puncturing the sldn with a 

 sharp bamboo instrument something like a comb, and then rubbing in a blue liquid 

 dj'e obtained from the juice of a plant common upon the islands. All the islanders 

 are very fond of showy ornaments in the shape of necklaces made of beads and 

 coloured shells. They have the septum of the nose pierced, as likewise the lobes 

 of the ears, into which are thrust all kinds of decorations. The features of the 

 women are much flatter than those of the men, and they are in stature considerably 

 shorter ; there are, however, many marked exceptions to this rule. Their limbs 

 are round and well turned, but the long pendulous breasts of the married womeii 

 detract greatly from their otherwise symmetrical proportions. Their only dress is 

 a short covering made of the plaited filaments of the plantain-leaf, or simply of 

 native grass attached to a cord round the waist ; but this primitive costume varies 

 j^reatly on different islands. I met with two Albinoes, — one a man, on the island of 

 Esperitu Santo ; the other was a woman, whom I fell iu with when crossing the 

 island of Vanu Luva. In a^jpearance they were both very ugly ; the latter was 

 exceedingljf stout, and her skin, of a pinkish-white colour, was speckled all over 

 with dark red spots about the size of peas, while she had pink eyes, A-ery weak and 

 inflamed, and light sandy-coloured hair. 



All things considered, the physical condition of the islanders does not appear to 

 manifest anj' sign of degeneration. As a rule the natives inhabiting the various 

 islands appear to be healthy and vigorous. The prevailing diseases are dysenteiy, 

 fever, and ague, chronic rheumatism, scorbutic affections, ophthalmia, and elephan- 

 tiasis. They seem to have little or no notion of medical skill, but place great faith 

 iu charms and incantations for the cure of the diseases from which they suffer. 



In tracing the distiibution of the several races inhabiting the Pacific Islands a 

 marked difference is observable in the construction and decoration of the various 

 implements of war and the canoes employed by the natives on various islands. 

 The war implements of the Malays are remarkable for ue;itness of construction, skil- 

 ful carving, and various other artistic decorations ; while their canoes are lightly 

 built, tastefully painted, and inlaid with pearl shell about the prow, which is usually 

 curiously ^ar^■ed. These canoes are often capable of carrving from fifty to sixty 

 men. On the other hand, among the Papuans their war implements are mostly 

 very rude in construction, and there is far less of the decorative art displayed in 

 their manufactme. Their canoes likewise, although large, can lay no claim to 

 artistic design, while on some islands they assume the most primitive form, being 

 made simplj' from huge logs liollowed out by fire. Dut even the Papuans them- 

 selves show a variety of design iu the construction of their weapons, and which 

 varies tipon different islands. On the island of Tana tlie war-club, a favourite 

 weapon, is very heavy, and requires to bo wielded with both hands. Many of the.se 

 clubs are highly polished, but the carving about them is of the simplest design. 

 On the island of Erromango the spears are made entirely of wood, the points being 

 neatly carved and barbed. The natives of this island also use a weapon of oval 

 shape, in form not unlike the paddle of a canoe, the edges of which are hardened 

 by tire and made very sharp. On the island of Esperitu Santo the spears are usually 

 of great length, often as much as from 10 to 12 feet; the heads of them are 

 made of human thigh-bone, sharply pointed and barbed, while all are poisoned. 

 The chiefs of this island, when in full war-costume, wear human jawbones around 

 the left wrist, and carry one of these long spears with three prongs to it and sharp 

 needle-like points of bone coming a considerable distance down the shaft. These 

 spears are highly prized as emblems of chieftainship, and are handed down as heir- 

 looms from one chief to another. The bows are often of great power ; and on the 

 Santa-Cruz Islands, where Bishop Patteson and Commodore Goodenough were 

 murdered, they are all from 8 to 10 feet long, the arrows being as much as 4 feet 

 in length. On all the islands the arrows are tipped with human bone, and are 



