322 THE GEUISE OF TEE ^GUEAQOA: ■ 



fruit tree, banana, plantain, tlie chestnut of the Pacific, the 

 yam, arrowroot, and taro in small quantities ; these three 

 last plants are, together with an edible root resembling taro, 

 only very much larger, and called Nevya, the stand-by in 

 times of scarcity and famine. There are four species of 

 indigenous palms. The papau has been introduced. 



Pigs appear to have been introduced from Tanna several 

 years ago. Captain Edwards brought in horses, cattle, and 

 goats, but none are in the possession of the natives; and 

 the stock was to be removed to New Caledonia in a 

 short time. 



The natives give distinct names to sixty birds. Among 

 them ai'e pigeons, and several small birds, some of gay, 

 others of gorgeous plumage. There are two species of 

 snakes. There are native names for ninety-five salt-water, 

 and for sixteen fresh-water fish ; a few are edible. 



Their weapons are bows, arrows, spears, &c.,and recently 

 guns and hatchets. 



They make the rings of stone, already alluded to, the 

 laro-est of which weigh some forty pounds, and the smallest 

 two and a-half pounds. They also make out of stalactites, 

 or sometimes of clay, images of the new and full moons ; 

 they are considered sacred, used perhaps as idols, and are 

 only exhibited at feasts ; at all other times they are kept 

 hidden in the ground. Nunpuri shells, principally bought by 

 traders, and boar's tusks, are used for similar purposes 

 in barter. 



