ELLICE S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 
49 
Their chief desire was to obtain tobacco, of which they seem to be 
extravagantly fond ; it was their constant request, and whilst in their 
canoes alongside, or on deck, the cry was constantly “ tebake.” It 
was not begged as a gift; for, what appeared singular enough for 
South Sea islanders, they seemed to have no idea of receiving any 
thing as a gratuity, but instantly made a return of something for what¬ 
ever was given them. So eager were they after it, that when one had 
put a piece in his mouth, others would seize him, and actually force it 
out with their fingers. 
Besides the mats, they had fans, fly-brushes, and baskets of different 
sizes and shapes, with nets and hooks for fishing. Some had wigs, 
and others carved images, all of which were readily parted with for 
tobacco. Another article which was brought off for sale, was a kind 
of treacle, made from the sap of the cocoa-nut tree, which they had in 
cocoa-nut shells: into these they frequently thrust their fingers, and 
drawing them through their mouths, smacked their lips most signifi¬ 
cantly of its goodness. 
The canoes of these natives were different from those of any other 
islanders: their average length is from twelve to fifteen feet; they 
are from two to three feet deep, and vary from fifteen inches to two 
feet in width. Each canoe has six or eight timbers in its construction; 
they are well modelled, built in frames, and have much sheer. The 
boards are cut from the cocoa-nut tree, from a few inches to six or 
eight feet long, and vary from five to seven inches in width. These 
are arranged as the planking of a vessel, and very neatly put together, 
being sewed with sennit; for the purpose of making them water-tight, 
they use a slip of the pandanus-leaf, inserted as our coopers do in flag¬ 
ging a cask. They have evinced much ingenuity in attaching the 
upright to the flat timbers, which are so secured as to have all the 
motion of a double joint, which gives them ease and comparative secu¬ 
rity in a sea-way, and thus renders them capable of withstanding the 
waves. They use an out-rigger, much smaller than those of other 
islands, and the staging or platform covers less space. One of the sides 
is nearly flat, in which respect they resemble the proa of the Ladrones, 
as figured in Anson’s Voyages 
VOL. v. e 
7 
