ELLICE'S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 



77 



the natives with whom they are grouped ; their figures are, for the 

 most part, rotund, and they seem to have an abundance of food to 

 become fat upon. In walking, they appeared like a moving mass of 

 jelly ; every laugh set not only their sides in motion, but their whole 

 frame and flesh. On being asked how these people became so fat, 

 Wood replied, they had plenty of food and " toddy" to fatten upon : 

 this last is a syrup, called by the natives "karaca," made from the sap 

 of the young cocoa-nut trees : of this they drink immoderately. They 

 wear mustaches and whiskers, which are highly prized and carefully 

 nursed among them. They had a good-humoured cast of counte- 

 nance, and seemed peaceable and full of kindness. No scars were 

 seen on their bodies, neither had they any warlike instruments with 

 them. All the little casualties which so often affected the harmony of 

 the natives before, here produced no sort of disturbance ; and each 

 was inclined to render the other assistance in repairing the accidents. 







NATIVE OF MAKIN ISLAND. 



The men are very handsomely tattooed, of which the above cut 

 will give a correct idea. On their reaching the ship, they appeared 

 to put the fullest confidence and reliance in the treatment they were 

 to receive, although, according to Wood, they had seen but one vessel 

 during his residence on the island, and consequently it could not be 

 from the habit of intercourse, but must have been a natural feeling. 



VOL. V. 20 



