ELLICE'S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 49 



Although it has been said that the majority go naked, it must not 

 be understood that the rest are clothed, for they wear no more than 

 a sort of girdle, which, however, serves no purposes of decency, only 

 covering the abdomen and lower part of the back. Some few had 

 over their shoulders a strip of matting, with a hole in the centre for 

 the head to pass through, in order to protect their bodies from the sun. 

 A few were tattooed very lightly, and in some it was scarcely distin- 

 guishable. Those that were so adorned had it from the breast to the 

 ankles, consisting of short oblique marks, an inch or two in length, 

 drawn parallel a quarter of an inch apart : there was a space both 

 before and behind, of three inches wide, from the neck down, that was 

 uncovered. No tattooing was seen on the face and arms. These 

 natives soon showed that they were familiar and had had frequent 

 intercourse with vessels, for on coming alongside, their first cry was 

 for "rope." They had also a few Polynesian words of the different 

 islands and groups that could be recognised, which they had obtained 

 from the vessels that at different times had visited their island. 



Their own language was totally different, and none on board could 

 comprehend it. 



When they arrived alongside, they made much clamour and many 

 gesticulations, but refused to leave their canoes. After some enticing, 

 one was induced to venture on board. They evidently comprehended 

 that the vessel was of a different character from what they had been 

 accustomed to see. The one who gained the deck showed much agi- 

 tation, but when he saw the arm-chest opened and a musket taken 

 out, his fears were too much for him, and he at once sprang over the 

 stern into the water, and swam to his canoe. Others came on board, 

 but they in their turn, were overcome in like manner, and took to 

 their canoes. 



The arms and legs of a large proportion of the natives exhibited 

 many scars, many of which were still unhealed. These had been 

 made with shark's-teeth swords, such as were seen at the Depeyster 

 Group, weapons which are calculated rather to make severe gashes 

 than dangerous wounds. The spears are equally formidable, and four 

 rows of shark's teeth are inserted in them ; some are of the uncommon 

 length of twenty feet, but they are usually about eight or ten feet long, 

 and have prongs projecting from their sides also armed with teeth. 

 A drawing of these arms is given in the wood-cut at the end of the 

 chapter. 



They were evidently in the habit of having severe conflicts with 



VOL. V. 13 



