Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/173

 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 143 infant daugther, who were thrown on the care of their friends, the mother having been strangled, and buried with her husband. The orphans were taken to the house of Tokanaua's elder brother, who provided wet-nurses for the babe. He became, however, dissatisfied with this arrangement; and as his wife was just then confined, he arranged with her to murder their own child, that the adopted one might take its place and receive her care. The wives sometimes become unruly. Near to the King of Lakem- ba, and, afterwards, to the King of Mbua, I saw lying a stick of heavy wood, about the size of a broom-handle. On inquiry, I found that the free use of this truncheon was very effective in subduing the wayward wills of the women when they became disorderly. Tanoa's staff", used for this purpose, was inlaid with ivory, but did not, on that account, cause less pain. This is employed in cases not grave enough to de- mand the club, as, for instance, the dredre kaci — the call by laughing — the way in which women are supposed to call their gallants. These swains, to make themselves increasingly agreeable, sweeten their breath by eating a greyish clay, until nausea is produced. But unhappy is the woman whose amours come to light ! The sweet words and pleasant breath of the lover are succeeded by the rough abuse of her lord, and by such a beating as leaves the difference between it and being clubbed very small indeed. The aged King, Tuithakau II., visited me one day in evident trouble. After sitting silent awhile, he said, " Have you a spy-glass ? " Find- ing that I had one, he proceeded, " Do look, and see if my woman has gone to Weilangi only, or right away to Wainikeli." Weilangi was a village about six miles off", and Wainikeli about six miles further, with high hills interposed. It appeared that the old gentleman had found it necessary to use severe discipline with one of his wives, who, after being beaten, ran away ; and he now felt anxious about her, and came to solicit the help of my glass to ascertain her whereabouts. I assured him that, in this case, the spy-glass was of no use, as the woman had been gone several hours, and was now, no doubt, in some house with her friends. " Look," he rejoined, " if you can see her footsteps on the road from Weilangi to Wainikeli." It was with difficulty that I per- suaded him that it was impossible to see, at such a distance, a path which was narrow and irregular, and, morever, hidden with forest and brushwood. That which bears the name of swearing among the South Sea Islanders, though bad enough, is different in its kind from English swearing, and not so great an evil. The natives never blindly invoke