198 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES 
it seldom had more than four other holes, three m 
the upper side covered with the fingers, and one 
beneath, against which the thumb was placed. 
Sometimes, however, there were four holes on 
the upper side. It was occasionally plain, but 
more frequently ornamented, by being partially 
scorched or burnt with a hot stone, or having fine 
and beautifully plaited strings of human hair wound 
round it alternately with rings of braided cinet. 
It was not blown from the mouth, but the nostril. 
The performer usually placed the thumb of the 
right hand upon the right nostril, applied the 
aperture of the flute, which he held with the 
fingers of his right hand, to the other nostril, and, 
moving his fingers on the holes, produced his 
music. The sound was soft, and not unpleasant, 
though the notes were few; it was generally 
played in a plaintive strain, though frequently 
used as an accompaniment to their pehes, or songs. 
These were closely identified both with the music 
and the dances. The ihara , the drum, and the 
flute, were generally accompanied by the song, as 
was also the native dance. 
“ In every nation it has been found that poetry 
is of much earlier date than any other production 
of the human mind,” and I am disposed to 
ascribe the highest antiquity to the native ballads. 
Much of their mythology is probably to be 
ascribed to this source, and many of their legends 
were originally funeral or elegiac songs, in honour 
of departed kings or heroes. I have heard them 
recited, and have often been struck with their 
pathos and beauty; two lines of one, which 
Mr. Nott heard recited for the consolation of a 
mother and family, on the death of an only son, 
have always appeared exceedingly beautiful. 
