52 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
leaflets are often plaited, when the whole leaf is 
ealled paua , and forms an excellent skreen for the 
sides of their houses, or covering for their floors. 
Several kinds of baskets are also made with the 
leaves, one of which, called arairi , is neat, con¬ 
venient, and durable. They were also plaited for 
bonnets or shades for the foreheads and eyes, and 
were worn by both sexes. In many of their 
religious ceremonies they were used, and the niau, 
or leaf, was also an emblem of authority, and was 
sent by the chief to his dependents, when any 
requisition was made : through the cocoa-nut leaf 
tied to the sacrifice the god was supposed to enter ; 
and by the same road the evil spirits, who, it was 
imagined, tormented those affected with diseases 
were driven out. Bunches or strings of the 
leaflets were also suspended in the temple on 
certain occasions, and answered the same purpose 
as beads in Roman Catholic worship, reminding the 
priest or the worshipper of the order of his prayers. 
On the tough and stiff stalks of the leaflets, the 
candle-nuts, employed for lighting their houses, 
were strung when used. 
Round that part of the stem of the leaf which is 
attached to the trunk of the tree, there is a sin¬ 
gular provision of nature, for the security of the 
long leaves against the violence of the winds. 
A remarkably fine, strong, fibrous matting, at¬ 
tached to the bark under the bottom of the stalk, 
extending half way round the trunk, and reaching 
perhaps two or three feet up the leaf, acting like 
a bracing of network r to each side of the stalk, 
keeps it steadily fixed to the trunk. While the 
leaves are young, this substance is remarkably 
white, transparent, and as fine in texture as silver 
paper. In this state it is occasionally cut into 
