210 THE CRUISE OF THE ' GUBAQOA.' 



power of tlie chiefs is nominal, except when tliere is ques- 

 tion of war ; and there is scarcely a dispute which is settled 

 otherwise than by a fight. The title of chief is hereditary, 

 but might makes right, and tlie strong puts down the weak. 

 The men never go out unarmed ; their weapons were killing 

 stones, clubs, spears, bows and arrows, and kawas (stones 

 about the length of an ordinary counting-house ruler, only 

 twice as thick), which they throw with deadly precision 

 when their victim is within twenty yards of them. All 

 these weapons are now laid aside for firearms and toma- 

 hawks. 



Every village has a clear circular space under the sliade 

 of a large banj'an tree for their viarum, or place of pubhc 

 meeting. There all the men of the settlement assemble 

 about sundown for a cup of Kava, and their evening meal. 

 The women and girls have tlieir meals apart from the men, 

 and totally abstain from Kava drinking. Pubhc feasts, 

 night dances, and political meetings are held in the marum. 

 In public discussions there are special orators, one or more 

 in every village, who chant their speeches, and walk about 

 in peripatetic fashion fi"om the circumference into the centre 

 of the manuii. 



There was not a single White man in the island at the 

 time we were there. Formerly there had been Missionaries 

 and some settlers engaged in the sandal-wood trade. In 

 1862, when the Protestant mission was driven away, it was 

 computed that there were 500 natives who had embraced 

 Christianity, and renounced war, cannibalism, infanticide, 



