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 

 during 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 islandei - s 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- 



