Bansrow.—Stray Thoughts on Mahori and Maori Migrations. 239 
blades circular. Here the handles are crooked, the blades long, narrow, 
and pointed. Is this a mere matter of fashion, or is any reason assignable 
for the change ? "Timber here would be available for paddles of any width. 
Captain Cook mentions that the double canoes he saw in New Zealand 
were like those of the Society Islands, and also that the “ hongi” or nasal 
salutation was common to both countries. Though this latter practice still 
prevails in New Zealand, I cannot call to mind its existence in Tahiti when 
I was there. Likely enough the missionaries had set their faces against 
this as being a heathen custom. 
Double canoes have been largely superseded at the Society Islands by 
outrigger canoes, that is a single canoe with a light ricker of ** puron”’ wood in 
the place of the second canoe, as described by Dampier in use at Guam. 
Drake, in 1579, found at the Carolines, canoes with an outrigger on each 
side. Similar vessels were used by the Acheen Malays a century later. 
Double canoes do still exist at the Society, Hervey, and Paumotu groups, 
but I never saw one in this country, neither has the oldest white inhabitant, 
nor even any of the present Natives, though they have heard of their fathers 
having employed them. 
Several causes may have contributed to the change. 1. The growth 
here of large pine trees from which single canoes of sufficient size could be 
made. 2. The unhandiness of double canoes in the rougher seas prevalent 
beyond the tropics. 3. The numbers of rivers and creeks unknown in coral 
islands but common here, many of which through narrowness would be 
inaccessible to double canoes. 
Where are we to look for-the prototype of the double canoe ? Can we find 
it in Malaya? The only vessel with which Iam acquainted of similar 
construction is the immemorial ** balsero”’ of seal-skins, used by Peruvian 
fishermen. In default of seals the islanders, retaining the model, used 
wood. 
Oceasionally two canoes were lashed together in New Zealand that a 
temporary stage for fighting men might be supported between these, but 
this was quite another thing from a canoe intended to be permanently 
double. 
Tradition tells us that seven canoes brought to this country the ances- 
tors of the present Native inhabitants; and in compiling genealogies, the 
same number of generations appear to be allowed for the descent of any 
leading chief to his immigrant ancestor. But it is rather remarkable that 
one line of descent, as far as I know, is given for each canoe for seven 
generations. Chiefs of note of the present day always descend from the 
main stem of their respective canoes. Are not these earlier generations 
mythic ? 
