The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 2 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristicsWood, J. G. (John George)
History
The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 2 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Anthropology; Ethnology; Manners and customs
We find this feeling in every one of the innumerable groups of islands
which stud the Pacific, and, as we shall soon see, it prevails even
among those groups which preserve the same language and customs.
In fact, among the Polynesians there is that very feeling of local
jealousy which prevails even in civilized countries, and which is,
though necessarily more limited, far more rancorous than the feelings
of enmity which prevail between mighty nations.
One of the largest of these islands is VATÉ, sometimes called Sandwich
Island. This latter term should not be used, as it tends to cause
confusion between a single island of the New Hebrides and the great
group of the Sandwich Islands, which are inhabited by a totally
different race of men. To strangers Vaté is very unhealthy, but the
causes which produce malaria also produce a wonderful fertility of
vegetation. This island is about seventy miles in circumference, and is
remarkable for the thick growth of forests upon its lower limits, and
of verdure upon the higher portions which are not so well fitted for
trees. The natives seem to give some time and trouble to agriculture.
The inhabitants are black of skin, but tall and well-formed, and their
dress in many points reminds the observer of the costume of several
African tribes. That of the men consists of a broad belt or wrapper of
matting wrought in patterns colored with red, white, and black. The
hair is generally gathered up into a bunch at the top of the head,
stained yellow, and adorned with a plume of feathers.
As to ornaments, they are much like those which have already been
mentioned as belonging to the Solomon Islanders. The lobes of the ears
are always much distended, from the habit of wearing in them heavy
ornaments cut from white shells, or similar materials. The septum of
the nose is mostly pierced, and the aperture filled with a white stone.
Raised scars are made in the arms and chest, and arranged in definite
patterns. Armlets made of shells are used by these islanders. Their
figure and costume are well represented in the engraving No. 1, on the
973d page.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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