in the Paeific Ocean. 



99 



son^ or grandson, takes the lead, and they march in one line for 

 1:he camp, to the number of two or three hundred. In the same 

 manner we received the contributions of all the other tribes, with 

 this difference only, that all the tribes except those of the Vt^'^.ey 

 of Tieuhoy were always preceded by a person bearing a white 

 flag. When I asked Gattanewa why this practice was not 

 adopted by the people of his valley, his reply was, that every 

 body knew we were friends. 



Although no external marks of respect were shown to Gatta^ 

 newa ; although he mixed unnoticed in the crowd ; although he 

 steered, and sometimes paddled, his own canoe, caught fish for 

 bis family, assisted in the construction of canoes, in the formation 

 of household and other utensils, and bore the reputation of being 

 one of the most ingenious and industrious mechtinics on the 

 island, still Gattanewa had his rank, and that rank was known 

 and respected. To touch the top of his head, or any thing which 

 had been on his head, was sacrilege. To pass over his head was 

 an indignity never to be forgotten. Gattanewa, nay, all his 

 family, scorned to pass a gateway which is ever closed, or a house 

 with a door ; all must be as open and as free as their unrestrained 

 manners. He would pass under nothing which had been raised 

 by the hand of man, if there was a possibihty of getting round or 

 over it. Often have I seen him walk the whole length of our 

 barrier, in preference to passing between our water casks ; and at 

 the risk of his life scramble over the loose stones of a wall, rather 

 than go through the gateway. The mat on which Gattanewa re- 

 posed was held in such respect, that it could not be touched by a 

 female, not even by his wife and family, whose mats in turn were 

 tabooed for those of an inferior class. Indeed there are wxjmen, 

 and some of the handsomest on the island, whose parents are con- 

 sidered wealthy and respectable, but they dare not walk or sit on 

 a mat. They are not of royal blood, and this is a prerogative 

 which seems confined to them. 



Gattanewa has his servants, who perform for him and his 

 family many domestic services, such as cooking, bringing water, 

 &c. It does not appear, however, that he has any claims on 

 their services ; he gives them food, and as long as it suits them 

 they stay. They mix with his family, occupy the same room, 

 and a stranger, on entering the house of Gattanewa, would not 

 know him from one of his domestics. 



By the time our village was completed, every thing had been 

 taken out of the frigate, and the powder and provisions deposited 

 on board the prizes. The ship had been thoroughly smoked 

 with charcoal, to destroy the rats, which, on opening the hatches, 

 were found in great numbers dead about the large pots in which 

 the fires were made. Several tubs full of them were collected 



