sorter' S J OU 11NAL. 



65 



Although no external marks of respect were shown to 

 Cfattanewa ; although he mixed unnoticed in the crowd 5 

 although he steered, and sometimes paddled, his own 

 canoe, caught fish for his family, assisted in the construc- 

 tion of canoes, in the formation of household and other 

 utensils, and bore the reputation of being one of the most 

 ingenious and industrious mechanics on the* island, stiil 

 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. Gatta- 

 newa, nay, all his family, scorned to pass a gateway which 

 is ever closed, or a house with a door ; ail 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 possibility of getting round or over 

 it. Often have I seen him walk the whole lenoth 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. Tlie mat on 

 which Gattanewa reposed 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 

 of an inferior class. Indeed there are women, 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 fbem. 



Gattanewa has his servants, w^ho perform for him and 

 his family many domestic services, such as cooking, bring- 

 ing 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, everything had 

 been taken out of the frigate, and the powder and provi- 

 sions 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 num- 

 bers dead about the large pots in which the fires were 



VOL. II. 9 



