202 CANOES OF COBAL HAVEN DESCRIBED. 



ballast also was thrown out, when the boat of course 

 returned. By Captain Stanley's orders two mvisket 

 shots were fired over the canoes, while about 300 

 yards distant, to shew that although in fancied 

 security they were still within reach. The splash 

 of the first bullet caused them to paddle off in great 

 haste, and, when they again stopped, a second shot, 

 striking the water beyond the canoes, sent them off 

 to the shore at their utmost speed. 



With a single exception, to be afterwards noticed, 

 the canoes seen by us in Coral Haven are of the 

 following description. The usual length is about 

 twenty-five feet, and one of this size carries fi-om 

 seven to ten people. The body is formed by the 

 hollowed out trunk of a tree, tapering and rising 

 at each end, short and rounded behind, but in fi-ont 

 nm out into a long beak. A stout plank on each 

 side raises the canoe a foot, forming a gunwale 

 secured by knees, the seam at the junction being 

 payed over with a black pitch-like substance. This 

 gunwale is open at the stern, the ends not being 

 connected, but the bow is closed by a raised end- 

 board fancifully carved and painted ia firont of 

 which a crest-like wooden ornament fits into a 

 groove running along the beak. This figure head, 

 called tahiira, is elaborately cut into various de- 

 vices, painted red and white, and decorated with 

 white egg-shells and feathers of the cassowary and 

 bird of paradise. The bow and stem also are more 

 or less profusely ornamented with these shells. 



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