96 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



the women assist only by weeding the ground. The employment 

 of the females is almost exclusively confined to in-door occupation, 

 and those which we ourselves hold as belonging naturally to the sex, 

 such as cooking and preparing food, braiding mats, &c, and they 

 seem to have exclusive control over the house. The work of both 

 sexes is, however, very light, and the greater proportion of their time 

 is spent in pastimes, of which idleness forms the most considerable 

 part. Although the women are relieved from the toils of life, yet they 

 are not held to be above chastisement, and a man will not hesitate to 

 strike a woman ; but the fair ones consider themselves equally free, 

 and seldom fail to return the blow, and the aggrieved party generally 

 receives the aid of her companions, when the man is glad to escape 

 from the bruises, blows, and scratches they inflict. 



Among this people chastity is not regarded as a virtue, nor consi- 

 dered as any recommendation in the selection of a wife ; but after 

 marriage, a woman must be extremely guarded in her conduct, as 

 the punishment for a want of duty in this respect is severe, even 

 amounting to death in some cases; but it is usually limited to 

 expulsion from her husband's house. Notwithstanding these penal- 

 ties, there are frequent infractions of these ties, and it is not sur- 

 prising that they should occur, under their system of polygamy, and 

 the interdiction which prevents the younger brothers of chiefs, and 

 persons who do not hold land, from marrying. Intrigues and elope- 

 ments are not unfrequent, and produce the same results as else- 

 where. 



War, on all the islands with the exception of Makin, is a part of 

 their business, and apparently engages most of their attention. Their 

 conflicts may be considered as civil wars, for little communication is 

 held between any of the islands, except those of Apamama, Na- 

 nouki, and Kuria, which are under the king of Apamama. The 

 communication that takes place between the others is in consequence 

 of the escape of individuals from punishment, or who become des- 

 perate, and embark in a canoe, to seek an asylum in some of the 

 neighbouring islands. This is also the practice with the remaining 

 portion of a defeated party, in order to escape from the pursuit of the 

 victors. An instance of this kind was related by Kirby, that occurred 

 about ten years before his arrival. While the king of Apamama 

 was on a visit to Kuria, one of the principal chiefs in Apamama 

 rebelled against him, gained over many of his subjects, and obtained 

 full possession of the island ; numbers, however, remained faithful, 



