I will now proceed to give the reader some account of the Islands I
visited, and of the manners and customs of the natives, and shall
endeavour to be as candid and correct as possible.
The Mulgrave Islands are situated between 5 and 6 degrees north
latitude, and between 170 and 174 degrees of east longitude. They are
about 50 miles in length, and lie in the form of a semi-circle,
forming a kind of inland sea or lake; the distance across it being
about 20 miles. The land is narrow, and the widest place is probably
not more than half a mile. On the north side of the group are several
inlets or passages, of sufficient depth to admit the free navigation
of the largest ships; and if explored, excellent harbours would in all
probability be found. In the inland sea are numerous beds of coral,
which appear to be constantly forming and increasing. These coral beds
are seen at low water, but are all overflowed at high tide. The whole
group is entirely destitute of mountains, and even hills, the highest
land not being more than six feet above the level of the sea at high
water. By the accounts given me from the natives, it appears that some
parts have been overflowed by the sea. Their being so low, makes the
navigation near them very dangerous in the night, both because they
would not be easily seen, and because the water is very deep quite to
the shores; and a place for anchoring can scarcely be found on the
outside of the Island.
The air of these Islands is pure, and the climate hot; but the heat
is rendered less oppressive by the trade winds, which blow constantly,
and keep the atmosphere healthful and salubrious for so low a
latitude.
The soil, in general, is productive of little besides trees and
shrubs, and most of it is covered with rough coral stones.
The productions are breadfruit in its proper season, and cocoanuts,
which they have throughout the year; and a kind of fruit different
from any that grows in America, which the natives call Bup--all
growing spontaneously. Of the leaves of the trees the women
manufacture very elegant mats, which they wear as blankets and
clothing; of the bark of a vine they make men's clothing; and of the
husks of the cocoa they make ropes and rigging for their canoes, and
for almost every other purpose. The waters round the Islands abound
with fish, and the natives are very expert in catching them.
There are no animals on the Islands, excepting _rats_; and by these
little quadrupeds they are literally overrun.
The number of all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, is
probably between five and six hundred.
The following may be given as prominent characteristics of the
natives.--They are in general, well made and handsome--very indolent
and superstitious. They are morose, treacherous, ferociously
passionate, and unfriendly to all other natives. When they are not
fishing, or otherwise employed, they are generally travelling about,
and visiting each other. They have no salutations when they meet, but
sit down without exchanging a word of civility for some minutes; but
after a silent pause, the head of the family, if there is any thing in
the house to eat, presents it to his guests, who, when they have eaten
sufficiently, if there are any _fragments_ left, are very careful to
secure them and carry them off when they return home; and the host
would regard it as an imposition, if his visitors were to neglect this
important trait of politeness, and fashionable item in etiquette.
They accustom themselves to frequent bathing; and commence with their
children on the day of their birth, and continue the practice twice a
day, regularly, till they are two years old. They do this to
invigorate the system, and render the skin of their children thick and
tough by exposure. Their living consists simply of breadfruit,
cocoanuts, and bup; but cocoanuts are all they can depend on the year
round--the two other articles being common only a part of the year.
Their diversions consist in singing, dancing, and beating time with
their arms, in a manner similar to the amusements of the natives at
the Sandwich Islands; in which they appear to take great delight.
They wear their hair long, and tie it up in a kind of bow on the top
of the head, and this is all the covering they have for their heads.
The men have long beards. One part of their dress makes a singular and
ludicrous appearance, which resembles two _horse tails_ suspended
from the waist, one before and the other behind. The women's dress
consists of two mats, about the size of a small pocket-handkerchief,
which they tie round them like an apron.
I never saw any form of marriage among them, but when a couple are
desirous of being united, their parents have a talk together on the
subject, and if the parties all agree to the union, the couple
commence living together as man and wife; and I never knew of an
instance of separation between them after they had any family. In a
few instances polygamy prevailed.
The following will give a pretty correct idea of their funeral rites
and solemnities:
When a person dies, the inhabitants of the village assemble together,
and commence drumming and singing, halloing and yelling; and continue
their boisterous lamentations for about 48 hours, day and night,
relieving each other as they require. This they do, because they
imagine it is diverting to the person deceased. They bury the body at
a particular place back of their houses, and use mats for a coffin.
After the ceremony of interment is performed, they plant two cocoanut
trees, one at the head and the other at the feet of the buried person.
But if the trees ever bear fruit, the women are prohibited from eating
thereof, for fear of displeasing the bad spirit, _Anit_. And here it
may not be inappropriate to remind the reader that Eve ate of the
forbidden fruit, notwithstanding she knew it would displease the GOOD
SPIRIT.
In their personal appearance, the natives are about the middle size,
with broad faces, flat noses, black hair and eyes, and large mouths.
In relation to literature, they are as ignorant as it is possible for
people to be, having not the most distant idea of letters.
Concerning the religion of the untaught natives of the Mulgraves, the
following remarks will give all the knowledge I am in possession of:
They believe there is an invisible spirit that rules and governs all
events, and that he is the cause of all their sickness and
distress;--consequently they consider him to be a very bad being.--But
they have no belief in a good spirit, nor have they any modes of
worship.--It is a prevalent opinion among them, when any are sick,
that the bad spirit rests upon them; and they believe that particular
manoeuvres and a form of words, performed round and said over the
sick, will induce _Anit_, the bad spirit, to cease from afflicting,
and leave the unfortunate sufferers. With regard to a future state of
existence, they believe that the _shadow_, or what survives the body,
is, after death, entirely happy; that it roves about at pleasure, and
takes much delight in beholding everything that is transacted in this
world;--and as they consider the world as an extensive plain, they
suppose the disembodied spirits travel quite to the edge of the skies,
where they think white people live, and then back again to their
native Isles; and at times they fancy they can hear the spirits of
departed friends whistling round their houses, and noticing all the
transactions of the living. Singular as some of these notions and
opinions may appear, there is much to be met with in Christendom
equally at variance with reason; and I have heard from the pulpit, in
New-England, the following language: "I have no doubt in my own mind
that the blessed in Heaven look down on all the friends and scenes
they left behind, and are fully sensible of all things that take place
on earth!"