Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

552 UOMESTIC MANNEUS. NoV. especially of one's own cloth, spoken of in such terms of friendsliip and respect, and how much that pleasure is increased Avhen one reflects, that many years have elapsed since the con- duct took place which caused these sensations. Mr. Stokes passed some nights in Otaheitan cottages. He told me that the natives, both men and women, are extremely fond of their children, and are very kind to them. Not content with nursing and amusing them, they cram them as managers of poultry cause turkeys to be crammed, not exactly with pepper corns, or walnuts,* but with bananas and other nutri- tive food. At each end of the houses he visited there was a small fire, one lx;ing for the elder, the other for the younger folks ; this was in the evening, at their last meal time. Breadfruit, which had been previously roasted, and wild plantains brought from the mountains, were put to the fire to be warmed. Meanwhile cocoa-nuts were opened, their milk was poured into cups, made of empty nutshells, and handed about with the nuts. Each person had a nut and a cup of the milk, orjuice.-f- Taro-root roasted was then served, together with the bread-fruit and plantain, on leaves freshly gathered ; there was also a piece of brownish yellow wood, like the rotten root of a tree, hanging up in the hut, which the people sometimes eat; it is called Tl^ Grace was said (a duty never omitted), and a clean, comfortable meal enjoyed by the whole party. Afterwards the fires were put out, and a queer little wooden pipe passed round. The strongest tobacco is thought the best, and they like to swallow the smoke. Sometimes, instead of tobacco, they use an indigenous herb. Before sleeping the oldest man said prayers : one of the young men read a short portion of the New Testament, and then a hymn was sung by the whole family. A lamp was kept * The very best things for fattening turkeys. t Cocoa-nut milk n~.akes an indelible black stain, and is sometinaes used for dyeing. t The root of the Ti plant is sweet, like sugar cane of indifferent qua^ Jity. Molasses has been made from it.