CHAPTER III. 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE KINGSMILL 

 ISLANDERS. 



1841. 



In order to obtain all the information possible from Kirby and Wood, 

 Captain Hudson placed them under the immediate control of Mr. Hale, 

 the philologist. This gentleman had thus an opportunity to examine 

 and cross-question them, during the whole time they remained on board 

 the Peacock. To his report to Captain Hudson, I am principally 

 indebted for the following information respecting the entire group. 

 Captain Hudson states to me, that the opportunity Mr. Hale enjoyed 

 was the very best for eliciting information, as they were upwards 

 of a month on board the ship, and were under examination day after 

 day. 



Their accounts are deemed entitled by Captain Hudson and his 

 officers to much credit, from the fact that many things had passed 

 under their own eyes that perfectly agreed with the accounts that 

 Kirby, in particular, gave ; and he was found to have obtained much 

 fluency in speaking their language. It is likewise some confirmation 

 of Kirby's account, that Wood's in many particulars corresponded with 

 it, and in all as much so as could be expected between islanders that,- 

 although allied in race, are now living under totally different circum 

 stances. Wood, it must be observed, had not, though a much longer 

 resident than Kirby, acquired so thorough a knowledge of the language, 

 or of their manners and customs, principally, it was thought, from a 

 want of aptitude for such observation. 



The Kingsmill Group consists of fifteen islands, of which the 

 geographical positions have been already given in speaking of them 

 separately. 



(79) 



