354 Memoirs Bcniicc P. Bishop Miisciiiit 



Accordins: to the accounts of informants the bamboo knives were slivers, one-half to 

 three-quarters of an inch in width, from the stalk of the smaller of the two native species of 

 bamboo. When first split ofif, the outer coat of the stem g-ives a surprisinijly sharp edcje. but 

 this soon becomes dull with use. When a knife became dull it was usuall\- thrown away and 

 another sliver selected ; but it was occasionally sharpened by tearing- a thin strip off the edge 

 with the teeth. Jardin (33, p. 53 1 says that knives made from this bamboo were used to dis- 

 patch human victims for sacrifice. 



Knives made from sharpened pearl shells were used, also stone knives 

 made from long flakes. 



On the rare occasions when an indoor light is re(|uired the natives use 

 candles made of aiiia nuts. The ripe nuts are baked in an earth oven, the shells 

 cracked, and the oily kernels extracted whole. These kernels are then strung on 

 the stiff midrib of a coconitt leaflet, the lower end of the midrib being left bare 

 for some inches to serve as a base, or handle. As far as can be learned no 

 special candle holder is used. The lower end of the midrib is simply thrust be- 

 tweeii two stones of the paved hoitse floor. When ignited, the kernels Inirn 

 slowly, with a flickering smoky flame and the light requires constant tending, as 

 it is necessary to knock off the cinder of each nut with a short stick as soon as 

 the fire had passed to the one below. It is rather curious that lamps appear 

 never to have been used by the natives in the Marquesas, although their use was 

 common in both the Society Islands and Hawaii. Torches were rarely used for 

 interior illumination, but are still extensively used in night fishing. (See p. 397.) 



l94] 



