28 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
ance and manner of growth^ the flag or iris; the long 
broad sword-shaped leaves furnish the fibre so useful in 
making dresses for the natives^ fishing lines^ twine^ and 
strong cordage employed as running rigging in most of 
the vessels that trade with the islanders. It is a most 
valuable plants and will probably furnish an important 
article of commerce with New South Wales, or England. 
An unusual noise from the land aroused us early on 
the morning of the 25th, and, on reaching the deck, a 
number of war-canoes were seen lying along the shore, 
while crowds of natives on the beach were engaged in 
war dances, shouting, and firing their muskets at frequent 
intervals. On inquiry, we found that on the day we had 
visited Waikadie, a chief of Rangehoo had committed 
suicide, by throwing himself from a high rock into 
the sea. This event had brought the chiefs and war¬ 
riors of the adjacent country, to investigate the cause of 
his death; armed and prepared for revenge, in the event 
of his having been murdered. A council was held for 
some hours on the beach, when the strangers, being satis ^ 
fied as to the cause and manner of the chief’s death, pre¬ 
parations for war were discontinued, the people of Ran¬ 
gehoo repaired to their fields, to procure potatoes for 
their entertainment. It was Christmas-day, and about 
twelve o’clock we went on shore to dine with one of 
the Mission families. In the afternoon, I walked 
through the encampment of the strangers, which was 
spread along the sea-shore. Their long, stately, and in 
many instances beautifully carved canoes, were drawn up 
on the pebbly beach, and the chiefs and warriors were 
sitting in circles, at a small distance from them. Each 
party occupied the beach opposite their canoes, while 
the slaves or domestics at some distance further from 
