54 



E L L I C E ' S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 



which was thought by some of the officers to have the odour of tobacco 

 and molasses. The women were much less tattooed than the men ; 

 but, as at the other southern islands, in the same style with them. 



; .*.:<Sf1w^ 





WOMAN OF DRUMMOND'S ISLAND. 



The same custom was in vogue here that prevails at most of the 

 Polynesian islands, of rubbing noses and exchanging names. 



Along the shore of this island, in front of the villages or towns, 

 there are long lines of stone walls, from one to two feet high, serving 

 as fish-weirs or pens. In passing to the shore, they saw a party of 

 men and women engaged in driving a school of fish into one of them, 

 with long lines fringed with pandanus-leaves, used like a seine, some- 

 what resembling that before, described at Savaii : these fishers took no 

 notice whatever of our party. 



When they had approached within one hundred yards of the 

 beach, the natives came forward to meet them ; and within a short 

 distance from the beach they passed a small, old, and dilapidated 

 house, built on piles, about eight feet above the water : this old fabric, 

 as we afterwards found, was made use of for telegraphic signals, in 

 case of desiring assistance from their neighbours. 



The party were cordially received, both by the men and women, 

 who did not hesitate to advance : all were uncovered, and the majority 

 were women and children. Some of the women were the prettiest 



