HO MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OP 



The skulls of the chiefs are preserved, and treated in the same 

 way as at the other islands. 



From diseases the natives appear to be tolerably free. Consump- 

 tions, and a kind of cholera morbus, are the most fatal. There were 

 no cases of elephantiasis seen; but, as has been remarked in speaking 

 of the islands separately, the kind of cutaneous disorder, called by 

 the natives gune, prevails extensively ; this, at some stages of the 

 disease, resembles the ringworm. It begins with this appearance, in 

 a small circle, about an inch in diameter, covered with a scurf; the 

 ring gradually increases in size, and when it becomes large, a smaller 

 one forms within it; as this last increases, another forms within it, 

 and in this way the affection continues to spread, unless arrested. 

 Several circles often form on the body within a short distance of each 

 other, the rings meet and become confluent, producing a variety of 

 curved lines, and concentrical circles. The whole body becomes at 

 length covered with this scurf, which is always attended by painful 

 itching. This finally passes off, and leaves the skin seamed with an 

 infinity of circles and wavy lines of a livid hue, and produces a most 

 disgusting appearance ; in this stage it sometimes continues during 

 the remainder of a person's life, without materially affecting his 

 general health. At other times it assumes a more virulent character, 

 in which case large excrescences like warts form, first on the face, or 

 between the fingers and toes, and then in other parts. The softer 

 portions of the face and body swell to double their natural size ; the 

 person becomes unable to walk, or to move his limbs, until death 

 at length overtakes and releases him from his sufferings. The 

 natives call this disease sometimes gune-maior, or the southwest 

 gune, from the fact that it was introduced into their islands from that 

 direction ; and as the Peacock found it prevailing extensively at the 

 Depeyster Islands, it is but reasonable to suppose that it came 

 from that quarter. It was most prevalent at Taputeouea, the most 

 southern of the Kingsmill Islands, and gradually becomes less so in 

 the northern islands. Wood asserts that he has never seen a single 

 case of it at Makin. 



The climate of these islands is equable, and though of high tempe- 

 rature, it is found to be less oppressive than in most tropical coun- 

 tries. For the most part constant breezes prevail, and frequent 

 rain falls, which moderates the great heat, and at the same time con- 

 fers fertility on the soil. From October to April, the time of the 

 Peacock's visit, is the winter, and is especially distinguished by the 



