1832.] . SANDWICH ISLxVNDS. . 403 
The interior of the houses vary much, of course, as to comfort, 
convenience, and elegance, in proportion to the respectabiUty of 
the owners, and their means to support it. Those of the poorer 
class are extremely filthy ; while those of the better sort are 
neat and airy. The floor, or rather the ground, is covered with 
mats, three or four deep. In one corner is a platform of boards, 
rising five to ten inches from the ground, and covered with six, 
eight, or ten mats, or even more, if the means of the possessor 
will allow it ; the upper ones being very fine, and handsomely 
made. This is the native bed. The apartment — for there is but 
one in each house — has generally a screen across, behind which 
is seen a bed of our own kind. The)?- have few articles of furni- 
ture ; no chairs — no tables — for they are not wanted ; as the na- 
tives are accustomed to sit upon mats, after the fashion of the 
Turks. 
In their food they are extremely temperate. Fish they cut 
up in small pieces, and eat with poe, made of the taro plant ; 
which is one of the finest vegetables we ever ate. It is the arum 
esculentum- of botanists, and is generally known by the names of 
the wild Indian and French turnip. It grows in the marshes, and 
is the principal food of these islanders. That preparation of it 
which is called poe, is made by boiling these roots twice, and then 
keeping it some time. It much resembles starch, and is eaten, 
or rather conveyed to the mouth, with the two first fingers of the 
right hand. ' These islanders do not eat much meat of any kind ; 
their principal diet being vegetables. There are but few domestic 
utensils of any kind in their dwellings, and such as they have are 
principally of native production. 
In dress they vary as much as in their style of housekeeping ; 
some wearing silk, others cotton, but most of them the native 
dress only. We think that the men are better off in this respect 
than the women ; for many of the former dress neatly in the Eu- 
ropean fashion ; although it is far from an uncommon sight to see 
them in groups, nearly naked ; and the w^men with the tapa 
rolled round their forms as their only covering. 
They have no regular market-houses ; but near to the watering- 
place are some dirty huts, and a large open space, where meats, 
fish, and vegetables, are sold in the morning. This is, of course, 
considered and called the market ; and here may be bought fish, 
c c 2 
