545 



invariably suggests the effect and associations of the crinoline. 

 The women wear the same kind of armlets as the men. 



Meals. — There is only one substantial meal in the twenty- 

 four hours. It is eaten in the afternoon, at sunset, in the 

 Valavitsa hours. What remains over is eaten next morn- 

 ing, but this does not constitute a substantial meal and 

 is eaten cold. There is no meal at mid-day, except during 

 the period of the change of the south-east trade wind into 

 the north-west monsoon, when this is eaten. I was not 

 able to find out the reason for this change of mealtime, but 

 it was stated as a fact, and I was able to verify it by observa- 

 tion in December and January. 



Nowadays a number of natives have served their terms as 

 plantation boys, or have been in contact with the Mission, or 

 served the white man in some other capacity, and the custom 

 of eating substantially two or three times a day largely pre- 

 vails over the old arrangement. I was, however, assured by 

 all my informants that in the olden days a man would never 

 eat much in the morning or think of eating before sunset. (23) 



The inmates of each house eat their meal in common,^ 

 sitting on the verandah. Relatives and friends from other 

 houses are often present, and are invariably invited to partake 

 of the meal. The men and women eat at the same time, sitting 

 in one circle — the men in a group near the front of the house, 

 ,hh^ women on the women's side. The food is portioned out 

 tcj everybody in a separate dish or basket (see below). 



Although friends from the same village are not ashamed, 

 or afraid, to eat with their hosts, strangers from another tribe 

 would not partake of the food in the presence of others. lyua, 

 a Motu of Elevdla, who came as my "boy" to Mailu, could' 

 never be induced to eat food given him by any of his numerous 

 friends in the village. Whenever he happened to assist me 

 at a native repast he took his share away to eat it in solitude 

 at his own encampment. I was assured that this was the 

 right thing to do, and that no native would ever eat publicly 

 in a strange village ; if, however, there were several natives of 

 one tribe in a strange place they would not be ashamed to eat 

 in public. 



In the olden days, when Diihu houses existed, strangers 

 were entertained there, and there they got their food. The 

 Duhu was also the eating-place of the bachelors and of such 

 married and old men who chose to take their meals there. 

 Their food was sent by their respective mothers or wives. 



Veveni Custom. — Besides supplying food for its inmates, 

 every household is obliged to distribute a certain amount of 

 food to other related families. The amount of food given 



(23) This applies also to the Motu. 



s 



