ELLICES AND KINGSMILL 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; 



KINGSMILL CANOE. 



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 



