104 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



with a sufficient number of hard stones to line it. In this a fire is 

 made, and the stones placed on it : when the stones are heated, they 

 brush away the fire and ashes, and arrange them ; the food is placed 

 on them, over which mats are laid, and covered with earth ; before 

 closing the pit, they run a stick obliquely into the heap, and when 

 the whole is completed, this stick is drawn out, and water is poured 

 into the hole to create steam. Their messes require from one to four 

 hours to cook. At times they bake their food by simply putting it 

 upon the stones uncovered. 



They do not appear to suffer from want of food, although it is what 

 would be deemed of a coarse kind. During Kirby's stay, they had 

 abundance, though he mentioned having heard of a famine which 

 had occurred a few years before, when it became necessary for the 

 natives to have recourse to the purslane, which is not considered by 

 them as very unpalatable food. 



These people have, from the little time occupied in cultivating their 

 vegetable productions, a great deal of leisure; consequently, as would 

 naturally be expected, amusements are sought for, and occupy a 

 great part of their time : their festivals and dances are even looked 

 upon as claiming priority to their warlike expeditions, and for 

 these great preparations are always made some days previously. 

 Their greatest festivities take place at the time of full moon, or a few 

 days after it, when the people of one towm usually invite those of 

 another, both men and women, to what may be termed a dancing and 

 singing match. On the clay appointed, the guests arrive in their 

 canoes, and proceed to the mariapa, where they occupy that portion 

 of it on the side whence they came ; the townspeople seat them- 

 selves opposite to them. The food which the strangers bring with 

 them is laid in the middle, and as much more is added to it by their 

 hosts, all of which is shared out by the guests among themselves. 

 The dancing now begins, the guests making the first display of their 

 agility, and when they have finished, the people of the town follow. 

 A warm rivalry is thus kept up till evening, when the dancing gives 

 place to singing, each taking up the measure in his turn. This is 

 kept up until midnight, when the townspeople retire, leaving their 

 guests to sleep in the mariapa. These festivities last for three days, 

 after which the visiters depart. 



The men, during this period, clothe themselves in mats from the 

 waist downwards. Some load the waist with heavy strings of beads ; 

 others adorn the neck with rows of shells, and sometimes with one or 



