82 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 
tants arrived in two canoes from Barness or Baneba, an island which 
they say lies to the southwestward, and whence they had escaped 
daring a civil war, as the only means left them of preserving their 
lives. After they had arrived upon this island and had begun a settle¬ 
ment, 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 predeces¬ 
sors, and spoke a different language. For one or two generations 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 Baneba, 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 de¬ 
rived 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 communication between the islands safe and free. The grand¬ 
father 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 
hundred years since. But, so estranged have the inhabitants of the 
several islands become from each other, that if a canoe from one of 
them should visit, or seek, through distress, another island, the persons 
in it would in all probability be put to death, under the supposition of 
their being spies, or in order to procure their bones and teeth for the 
manufacture of ornaments. 
The islanders of this group differ in their personal traits from those 
of Polynesians, and more nearly resemble the Malays. Their colour 
is a dark copper, a shade or two deeper than the Tahitian; they are 
of the middle size, well made, and slender. Their hair is fine, black, 
and glossy; the nose slightly aquiline, but a little broad at the base; 
the mouth is large, with full lips and small teeth; the cheek bones pro- 
