CHAPTER III. 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE KINGSMILL ISLANDERS. 



1841. 



In order to obtain all the information possible from Kirby and 

 Wood, Captain Hudson placed them under the immediate control of 

 Mr. Hale, the philologist. This gentleman had thus an opportunity 

 to examine and cross-question them, during the whole time they 

 remained on board the Peacock. To his report to Captain Hudson, I 

 am principally indebted for the following information respecting the 

 entire group. Captain Hudson states to me, that the opportunity 

 Mr. Hale enjoyed was the very best for eliciting information, as they 

 were vipwards of a month on board the ship, and were under 

 examination day after day. 



Their accounts are deemed entitled by Captain Hudson and his 

 officers to much credit, from the fact that many things had passed 

 under their own eyes that perfectly agreed with the accounts that 

 Kirby, in particular, gave ; and he was found to have obtained much 

 fluency in speaking their language. It is likewise some confirmation 

 of Kirby's account, that Wood's in many particulars corresponded 

 with it, and in all as much so as could be expected between islanders 

 that, although allied in race, are now living under totally different 

 circumstances. Wood, it must be observed, had not, though a much 

 longer resident than Kirby, acquired so thorough a knowledge of the 

 language, or of their manners and customs, principally, it was 

 thought, from a want of aptitude for such observation. 



The Kingsmill Group consists of fifteen islands, of which the 

 geographical positions have been already given in speaking of them 

 separately. 



