364 MURDER. 



which does not include the idea of something edible. Human 

 flesh is known as "puaka balava," or "long pig."* "On 

 contemplating the character of this extraordinary people," 

 says Erskine, f "the mind is struck with wonder and awe at 

 the mixture of a complicated and carefully-conducted political 

 system, highly finished manners, and ceremonious politeness, 

 with a ferocity and practice of savage vices which is probably 

 unparalleled in any other part of the world." "Murder," 

 says Mr. Williams, " is not an occasional thing in Figi, but 

 habitual, systematic, and classed among ordinary transac- 

 tions." J Elsewhere he tells us that no Feegeean ever feels 

 safe with a stranger at his heels, and that to be "an ac- 

 knowledged murderer is the object of the Figian's restless 

 ambition." || On the Island of Yanua Levu, even among the 

 women, there were "few who had not in some way been 

 murderers."^]" To this they are trained up from infancy. 

 " One of the first lessons taught the infant is to strike its 

 mother." At Somo Somo, Mr. Williams saw mothers leading 

 their children " to kick and tread upon the dead bodies of 

 enemies."** No wonder that under these circumstances "a 

 happy and united household is most rare." Indeed it is 

 nearly impossible, for by an arrangement, which seems 

 almost incredible, " brothers and sisters, first cousins, fathers 

 and sons-in-law, mothers and daughters-in-law, and brothers 

 and sisters-in-law are severally forbidden to speak to each 

 other, or to eat from the same dish."ff Yet amid so much 

 that is horrible, there is still something in the Feegeean 

 which redeems his character from utter atrocity. If he hates 



* Erskine, I.e. p. 260. Other raam- f Erskine, I.e. p. 272. 



malia, when introduced into the South J Figi and the Figians, vol. i., p. 134. 



Sea Islands, received names indicative of I.e. p. 133. 



their similarity to this their principal || I.e. p. 112. 



quadruped: thus the horse -was called IT I.e. p. 180. 



the * man-carrying pig" in Tahiti, the ** I.e. p. 177. 



sheep was the "hog with teeth on its ft I.e. p. 136. 

 forehead" (Forster, I.e. p. 384). 



