86 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



it is dried, and make with molasses into cakes, which are sweet and 

 pleasant to the taste. 



Of all the native accounts of the peopling of the groups of the 

 islands in the vast Pacific, that of the Kingsmill Group bears the 

 strongest impress of truth and historical probability. Whether this 

 be owing to the comparatively recent period at which they have been 

 peopled, or to their traditions having been less confused by mytho- 

 logical tales, it is difficult to determine ; but the facts appear so re- 

 markable and probable, that few will read the account of them with- 

 out giving it the full weight of authentic history. This account states, 

 that the first inhabitants arrived in two canoes from Barness or Baneba, 

 an island which they say lies to the southwestward, and whence they 

 had escaped during a civil war, as the only means left them of pre- 

 serving their lives. After they had arrived upon this island and had 

 begun a settlement, two other canoes happened to arrive from an 

 island to the southeastward, which they called Amoi. The natives 

 in the last canoes were lighter in colour, and better-looking than their 

 predecessors, and spoke a different language. For one or two gene- 

 rations the two races lived together in harmony ; but the Baneba 

 people coveting the wives of the men from Amoi, difficulties arose, 

 which ended in the Amoi men being put to death by those of Ba- 

 neba, and the latter taking possession of the women. 



From these sources all the Kingsmill natives are descended. The 

 bread-fruit is said to have been brought by the Amoi people, and the 

 taro by those of Baneba. The cocoa-nut and pandanus were found 

 growing on the island. 



It is difficult to settle the position of Amoi, from its name ; but 

 the direction in which it lies would designate the Samoan Group 

 as the islands referred to. Those of Baneba, it is suggested, might 

 be derived from the Caroline Group, although the direction does not 

 exactly correspond. The Ascension Island of that group has Boneba 

 for its native name. 



What adds to the probability of this simple story, is the fact that it 

 is almost the only tradition these islanders have. That the islands have 

 been peopled within a period not very remote, is believed by the natives 

 themselves, and they state that only a few generations back the people 

 were much fewer than at present, wars less frequent, and the com- 

 munication between the islands safe and free. The grandfather of 

 Tekere, the present king of Kuria, is said to have voyaged to every 

 island in the group on a pleasure trip to see the world, about a hun- 



