244 



MBUA BAY AND MUTIIUAT A. 



The ship was again visited by a large number of the wives of the 

 chief, nearly all of whom were in a state of nudity ; yet they behaved 

 themselves well and modestly. A feast was prepared for them, for 

 if this were neglected, it would be considered an unpardonable over- 

 sight. They did not manage very well in sitting at table or using 

 the knife and fork. Their attack on the eatables, and the quantity 

 they devoured, showed not only appetite, but great capacity of 

 stomach. The knife and fork was too slow a process for them, and 

 their use was soon dispensed with for that of the fingers. 



During their visit, a native was detected stealing a hatchet. This 

 was the first theft committed on board the Peacock since being in the 

 group. The king's son, who was on board at the time, wanted to 

 club the thief on shore and roast him, but Captain Hudson thought 

 it was better for him to settle the business himself, and accordingly 

 punished him at the gangway, and gave orders that he should not 

 be admitted on board again. 



There are in Muthuata a greater number of light-coloured Feejee 

 men than are elsewhere to be met with. They are generally half- 

 caste, and this mixture has arisen from their intercourse with the 

 Rotuma Islanders, of whom they are very fond. 



Mr. Hale succeeded in getting permission to disinter some skeletons 

 on the island of Muthuata, which lies immediately off the town. 

 This island not only protects the harbour from the north wind, but 

 adds much to its beauty by its high and luxuriant 

 appearance. It is a little over a mile in length. 

 It appears to have been for a long time a burial- 

 place for both chiefs and common people. The 

 graves are scattered in groups along the shore 

 those of the chiefs being apart from the rest, and 

 distinguished by having small houses built over 

 them, from two to six feet high. The fronts of 

 these houses were of a kind of lattice-work, formed 

 of braided sennit, of which the cut will give an 

 idea. These houses were entirely vacant. Before some of them spears 

 or poles were crossed in the form of an X ; before others a stick was 

 planted in the ground, with its top tied around with sennit; near 

 others were long pieces of tapa, suspended from poles, with clubs, 

 spears, and a canoe, laid beside them. The natives said that the 

 deposit of these articles was (soro soro ni kai viti) a religious cere- 

 mony. 



FRONT OF HOUSE. 



