230 Men Ignorant of Fire. [March, 
them alongside the ships. On coming near they began a song 
or chant, holding up their paddles and mats, and shouting, ‘kaflou 
tamatau.’ They resembled the natives of Oatafu, or Duke of 
York’s island, wore the same kind of mats, eye-shades and orm 
ments, and some were tatooed in the same manner. Some, 
ever, were tatooed in a different style, being ornamented with 
variety of arrows on the forehead and cheeks, They were al 
finely formed and manly in appearance, with pleasing countè 
nances that expressed good nature. 
“They were eager enough for trade, and soon disposed of al 
they had to exchange; a few presents were made them, but all 
inducements failed to entice them on board. They app 
cheertul, laughing heartily at anything that struck them as ridit- 
lous. y * * * * * * + 
“The population of this island is estimated to be about ® | 
hundred souls, most of whom dwell in the town. 
“There were no signs of places for cooking, nor any app 
ance of fire, and it is believed that all their provisions are ea 
raw. What strengthened this opinion was the alarm the er 
felt when they saw the sparks emanating from the flint and 7 
and the emission of smoke from the mouths of those who 
smoking cigars.” 
The writer of this article was on board the Peacock, and ® 
vouch for the verity of Captain Hudson's account of our sd 
views with the natives, and also that they eat their -_ os i 
without cooking, but also had the greatest dread of fire in any pee 
We saw no traces of charcoal or ashes in their village or 
and we fully understood them as to their food, and how” 
taken. It consisted entirely of cocoanuts and pandanus bird 
fish, echini, and other products of the sea; the er aia j 
nd even ™ E 
ed on for? | 
island'sS* | 
w 
In many of the semi-civilized islands of the Pacific pee 
cooked fish are still eaten as a delicacy; also echi; ST i] f 
as we eat oysters, raw, or “in the shell.” one oF 4 
The terror of fire, as we witnessed it on more ee to | d 
sion at Bowditch’s island, convinced us fully that food; $ l 
period of our visit the natives had never cooked ee nd P 
was not abundant on any of the coral islands oF ret a d 
were plenty and relished when not cooked. We sa i preset? 4 
half cooking at the Paumotu archipelago of fish, £ 
them for transportation to the Island of Tahiti. 
mostly seen there, were not regarded as food, at 
were, could not have been easily obtained or reli 
plies, the population being large in proportion to the 
