REW A, 119 
mbure are constructed of canes about the size of a finger, and each 
one is wound round with sennit as thick as a cod-line, made from the 
cocoa-nut husk. At a little distance, the whole house looked as though 
it was built of braided cord, and presented a singular and curious 
appearance, creating a favourable idea of the skill as well as labour 
expended in its construction. 
There are others of small dimensions, of which the wood-cut on the 
preceding page, will give an idea. These are generally used as the 
depositories of the chiefs or persons of note. 
The next building visited was that of the king’s women. This is 
one hundred and eighty feet in length, twenty-four feet wide, and thirty 
feet high. Here were a number of women engaged in making mats, 
tapa, and baskets. ‘They were gay and merry, though busily engaged 
at their work. 
Another large spirit-house was next visited, in which the moun- 
taineers congregate; and on their exit from it they saw a bull near 
the door, which the natives, in essaying to follow the party, had to 
encounter. It-was not a little amusing to see them spitting at the 
beast to drive him off. 
Ngaraningiou’s dwelling was then visited. This is considered the 
most elegant house in the Feejees. It is very elaborately ornamented 
with sennit and braid. Order and decorum reign throughout, for 
Ngaraningiou is extremely dignified and reserved in his domicile, and 
is reputed to be somewhat of a tyrant. He will not suffer any of the 
natives to approach and gaze in at his doors, which is a common 
practice with them; and when, on one occasion, a stranger took the 
liberty to peep in at his door, he is said to have asked him if his head 
was made of iron that he dared thus to presume. 
Thokanauto’s house was occupied by several of our gentlemen 
during their stay. It is quite a large establishment, and was one of 
the noisiest that can well be imagined ; for Phillips himself being absent 
with the boats, his wife did not possess the requisite authority to main- 
tain order. On the first night of their lodging there, about fifty persons, 
men, women, and children, were collected, feasting, drinking ava, and 
maintaining a prodigious racket. They were apparently engaged in 
detailing and discussing the events that had taken place on board ship, 
and the narrative was constantly interrupted by jokes, laughter, ex- 
pressions of astonishment, and arguments leading to sharp words, until 
the shrill voice of the young mistress of the mansion was heard in 
earnest expostulation. The eloquence of Phillips’s orator, and his many 
barbers, was not to be so easily repressed; and, after a few moments’ 
silence, an altercation arose, that gradually grew into a quarrel and 
