Afusical have numerous musical instruments. Trumpets made of mussel-shells and Pan's pipes are to be found every where (p1. 9, fig. 5; pl. 13, fig. to); as also flutes (p1. 9, fig. 22), which are often played with the nose, bamboo sticks or wooden chests covered with skins to serve as drums (pl. 9, fig. t), and long bamboo tubes (as in Australia), which are struck in accordance with the rhythm of the song (pl. 13, fig. to). Nevertheless, the musical performances of the Melane sians cannot be said to be of a high standard.
Amusements, Literature, and everywhere indulge in dances at night, at which they appear in festal costumes and dance either in rows opposite each other or singly. Conjurers, such as we find repre sented in Homer, amuse the Feejee Islanders. Notwithstanding many pretty legends, poetry has made but small advances among this people, except in the Feejee Archipelago. Here we find a peculiarly poetic speech, a regular formation of verse and rhyme, and a few scattering poets, who are believed to derive their inspiration from the gods. We may also mention their prose recitations, which are highly developed, and a certain kind of eloquence to which they are addicted, and which they admire very much.
All the Melanesians show a decided aptitude for commerce. They also have the means of reckoning time—by the moon, by monsoons, etc. —as well as the knowledge of many constellations of which the Feejeeans are ignorant. On the whole, we must recognize the Melanesians as an able people. Morally, they do not stand high, though it is difficult to pronounce judgment upon them as a whole. They are frightfully bar barous and bloodthirsty, cowardly, revengeful, proud to the uttermost, and much given to lying; which bad qualities are most conspicuous in the Feejeeans, the most advanced of them all. Many of the less-cultivated tribes are more good-natured, friendly, and light-hearted. All are very religious, and in sexual relations tolerably constant.
and Social women have a hard lot, for, with the exception of the boat- and house-building, they have almost all the work to do. Polygamy prevails everywhere—at least, where the men are capable of supporting a number of wives. Children are often betrothed, and mar riage is generally accomplished by forcible abduction of the bride. We frequently see great tenderness in the family; in spite of which, the mur der of infants and of old and sick persons used to he practised throughout the whole region, and particularly among the Feejeeans.
As a service of love from their children the aged asked to be put to death. This was accompanied with great festivities, as were also the birth and the naming of the child, its circumcision, and marriage. Their social and political life gave occasion for many other festivals. On the Feejee Islands the
Sac <<'s and sacrifices and eating human flesh were indulged in at these festivities, which always took place in the temple square. Plate 13 (fig. i i) contains the picture of such a feast. The grossest cannibalism prevailed everywhere in Melanesia, though least of all, perhaps, in New Guinea; it was a sacred institution, the instru ments which were employed in it being used for nothing else. Thus, the Feejeeans had special forks for human flesh, each of which had a distinct name (p. 12, jig. 24), and the New Caledonians had a disk of serpentine, called the "grave," with which they ripped open the bodies of the dead, and an instrument made of human bones (which were much used for making utensils, and especially weapons and ornaments, pl. 9, figs. 15), with which the intestines were drawn out (pl. 12, figs. 13, 15). Women and children were excluded from these terrible repasts. Human beings were frequently slaughtered in order to he eaten, but for the most part they ate their fallen enemies.
Wars and II battles and their celebrations of victory were very sanguinary; consequently, the making of peace was correspond ingly solemn. The weapons peculiar to Melanesia are the bow and arrow (pl. 9, figs. 17, IS), which are wanting in the rest of Oeeaniea; besides these, they have slings—the New Caledonians carry a bag of sling-stones at their girdle (pl. 9, fig. 25)—spears of various kinds, often supplied with a barbed hook (pl. 8, fig. 3; pi. 9, figs. 2, 3, 8, 9; 12, figs. IO, IS), which were usually thrown by an elastic hurling-stick (pl. 9, fig. 25); wooden and stone clubs (fil. 12, jigs. 14, 17), maces (p. 9, Ag-. 25), swords, daggers 9, figs. 24), and various sorts of shields. Forti fied places are also frequently mentioned, and the Europeans found those of the Feejeeans impregnable. At present guns are almost the only weapons of the more civilized regions (fil. 13, fig. II).