190 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
it might be, only one sat on it at a time. The iri 
was finely polished, and the wood, in its grain and 
colour resembling the best kinds of mahogany, 
rendered it, although destitute of carving or other 
ornament, a handsome piece of furniture in a chief¬ 
tain’s dwelling. The rank of the host was often 
indicated by the size of this seat, which was used 
on public occasions, or for the accommodation of 
a distinguished guest. Those in more ordinary use 
were low, and less curved, but always made out of 
a single piece of wood. 
Next to these, their weapons, drums, and other 
musical instruments, were their most important 
furniture ; a great portion, however, of what might 
be called their household furniture, was appro¬ 
priated to the preparation or preservation of their 
food. 
The umete , or dish, was the principal. Some¬ 
times it was exceedingly large, resembling a canoe 
or boat more than a dish for food. It was frequently 
made with the wood of the tamanu, exceedingly 
well polished ; some were six or eight feet long, a 
foot and a half wide, and twelve inches deep, these 
belonged only to the chiefs, and were used for the 
preparation of arrow-root, cocoa-nut milk, &c. on 
occasions of public festivity. The umetes in ordi¬ 
nary use were oval, about two or three feet long, 
eighteen inches wide, and of varied depth. They 
are supported by four feet, cut out of the same 
piece of wood, and serve not only for the prepara¬ 
tion of their food, but as dishes, upon which it is 
placed when taken from the oven. 
The papahia is extensively used. It is a low 
solid block or stool, supported by four short legs, 
and smoothly polished on the top. It is cut out 
of one piece of wood, and is used instead of a 
