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

1835. NATIVES — CHURCH — OXEX. 587 heard. It was dark coloured, and not unlike good elderberry- wine. It is made from the small currant-like fruit of a shrub, which the settlers call ' native vine ;' but the resem- blance to a vine is about as evident as that of a common elder- berry bush. The fruit grows in clusters, much like small elderberries in appearance, but it contains stony kernels, which are said to be unwholesome, if not poisonous. Women collect the juice by squeezing the bunches of fruit with their hands. I have heard that it is used after fermentation as well as in its pure juicy state, but some assert the contrary : it might then assuredly cause intoxication ; I doubt, however, their often obtaining, or keeping, a sufficient quantity. It dyes the hands of the women and children who collect the juice, so deeply, that they cannot efface the stain for many days afterwards. Instead of rubbing, or rather pressing, noses, these people have adopted the custom of shaking hands: everyone expects to have a shake. Yet with all their asserted equahty , and demo- cratic ideas, there must be a considerable distinction of rank, and difference of occupation, among them ; for I particularly noticed that two chief persons of this tribe, who rather resem- bled the higher class at Otaheite, had far less swarthy com- plexions, and less hardened extremities, than the others one of them, considered by Mr. Baker to be the head of the tribe, was more like an Otaheitan ' Eri,' and less like the ordi- nary New Zealanders than any other native I saw, while at their island. From the meeting place under the large tree, we went to see a chapel which the natives were building, by their own free will and labour ; and in our way we passed through yam and potato grounds, so neatly kept, that no gardener need have hesitated to commend them.* The intended chapel was a lightly framed building of wood, Avith a thatched roof. The natives seemed to be very proud of it, and were much gra- tified by our praises. Some large oxen, in a pen, were feeding on young branches, and leaves of trees, gathered for them by the * Cook speaks in strong terms of the neatness and regularity of their cultivated grounds.