POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
2S9 
taining the fish. This kind of fish visit the coasts in 
shoals, at one or two seasons of the year only, and as 
they do not design their nets to last longer than one sea¬ 
son, they are not very carefully prepared. 
Upea is the common name for net. The wpea ava, or 
salmon net, is the longest and most important, and is 
seldom possessed by any but the principal chiefs; it is 
sometimes forty fathoms long, and twelve or more feet 
deep. One of this kind was made by Hautea, the 
governor of Huahine, soon after our arrival. Although 
the former pagan ceremonies, and the offerings at the 
marae, were discontinued, some of the ancient usages 
were observed, one of which appeared rather singular. 
As is customary on all occasions of public work, the pro¬ 
prietor of the net required the other chiefs to assist in its 
preparation. Before he began, two large pigs were 
killed and baked. When taken from the oven, they were 
cut up, and the governor's messenger sent with a piece 
to every chief; on delivery, the quantity was stated which 
each was desired to prepare towards the projected net. 
If the piece of pig was received, it was considered as an 
agreement to furnish it | but to return it, was, in effect, 
to refuse compliance with the requisition. At this time, 
however, no one returned the tarahu, or price, but all 
agreed to furnish one or two fathoms of the net. When 
any other chief wanted a net, he took the same course. 
The cord was about a quarter of an inch in diameter, 
and made with the tough white bark of the mate,^cMs 
prolixa^ which, next to the romaha, or flax, is considered 
more durable than any other indigenous vegetable sub¬ 
stance. The cord was twisted with the hand across the 
knee, in two or three strands or threads, and was even 
and firm. The meshes were about four inches square, 
n. 2 p 
